The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-06-18

I a1ecCS our pOckeLS more tndn any OtnSI
is how to defeat the operations of the un
lust, tyrannical and infamous distrlc
printing bill, passed at the late session o
our Legislature This bill authorize
partizan Judges to appoint one or NOR
papers In eacn judicial district to do al
the legal advertising for the district, thu
compelling our friends and neighbors Il
withdraw their patronage from US, and t
bestow it upon men they despise and pa
pers whose sentiments they abhor. Tha
this law is unjust and ty-annical, non'
vii deny, and that it was passed for th'
express purpose of breaking down conser
vative and building up Republican papers
all over the State, all Republicans admit
They do not pretend to justify it on any
other than partisan grounds. l believe
the law to be clearly unconstitutional, as
we'll as unjust and tyrannical, and in this
opinion | am sustained by many of the
ablest LAWYERS in the State. | therefore
recommend the appointment of commit
tee TO test its constitutionality before the
Courts, with power to assess and collect,
| from the members of the Association, a
sufficient sum to employ the best legal
talent in the State II the law is not
declared unconstitutional, its operations
will kill off more tina one-half the Conser-
vative journals in the State, as nc arly all
the country papers are more or less DEEPEN
dent upon legal advertising for support.
Another important subject claiming
our attention, is how to avoid being i'm
posed upon by foreign advertising agencies.
TINS subject has been discussed at almost
| Of a
are still swindled to an alarming extent
Advertising agents, who have been highly
recommended to our Association as honest
and reliable, and who have transacted a
large business with the press of the State,
have turned out to be both dishonest and
irresponsible, and have swindled us out
of thousands of dollars. These agents
send out advertisements to every paper in
the country, offering from one-elghth to
one-half our published rates for their
insertion, and L am sorry to say that they
are frequently inserted at those rates.
This is unjust to the home advertiser, who
is charged full rates, and ruinous to pub
fishers generally. Other advertisers for
ward their advertisements, with request
to publish them at lowest rates and for
ward bill. In nine cases out of ten they
cannot be found when wanted. No one
should publish an advertisement for less
than his published rates, and no foreign
advertisement should be inserted without
being paid for in advance, except where
you know the parties to be honest and
responsible. 1t would be much better to
cut down the size of your paper than to
insert advertisements merely to fill up
aud save composition. | would like to
see uniform rates established, on the basis
of subscription, and suggest the appoint
ment of committee to take the subject
under consideration. If rates can be
agree upon, and every member of the
Association will pledge himself not to in
sert au advertisement for less than such
rates, it will greatly benefit every one of
us.
Some publishers, find, insert obituary
notices, tributes of respect, Dotices of So
ciety meetings, and calls on gentlemen
to become candidates, free of charge
Those things do not interest the general
reader, but occupy the space he pays for,
and should be charged for the same as
advertising.
As our position on the subject of admit
ting Republican editors to membership
Ahas either been misunderstood or wanton-
IY mIsrepresenUeu, think should eX-
press our sentiments plainly and emphat-
ically, so that there can he no misunder-
standing hereafter. At our organization
all were cordially invited to join, and few
Republicans did affiliate with us for sever
al years, but they afterwards withdrew
and organized Republican Press Associa-
L
a second invitation.
Our Association is composed of gentle
men whose interests are identified, and
whose aims, we hope, are all for the good
Of the country, yet we frequently differ as
TO the policy to be pursued in the accom-
plishment of the ends aimed at.
These minor differences should be toll
Grated, and in the discussion of them we
should not impugn each others motives.
Let us cultivate more fraternal feeling,
and live together like band of brothers,
remembering always that ca soft answer
tarneth away wrath" We should not
quarrel among ourselves, but reserve
all our harsh sayings for our common
enemies-the army of robbers, plumber
ers, and tyrants.
/ Let Us aim to do our duty-to improve
the appearance, morals, circulation and
usefulness of our papers-to elevate public
sentiment; TO uphold and defend virtue;
| to denounce vice and immortality, and the
good and intelligent people of the State will
give us a support that will enable us tc
continue the fight until an honest Legisla
ture shall have repealed the law passed tc
rob us of our legitimate patronaga
slarve our children, and build up press
in the interest of dishonest tyrants. The
| blow struck at the freedom of the press
may stagger it for time, but the rebound
will kill the party that aimed it. Though
the past year has been gloomy one, and
dark clouds still hang threateningly over
Us, we must not despond. The cloud:
will soon vanish-the freedom of the
press will be re-established, and tyrants
and usurpers will be hurled from power
Hoping that the utmost harmony may
prevail throughout our deliberations, anC
that you will pardon me for any mistake
Imay make, now declare the Convention
ready to proceed to business.
The Trials of Honest .BOurm aIism
Mr.. Haskell of the Boston Herald a
the dinner table of the Ancient anC
Honorable artillery festival on Monday
evening was set to speak on the press
and said among other just and pat things
Independent journalism is not so mucl
of an acrobatic performance. Its mott
is to tell the truth and shame the devil
All it is blessed occupation. 1t ha
to correct so many lies told by othe
1 IL