Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-21
FAvORITISM.
The Chamber Of Commerce and the
hewspapeFs.


The Chamber Of Commerce and the
heWspapers.
We had always lAbored under the de.
fusion that the Chamber Of Commerce
was a pu~blic-spirited body, and that its
interesting annual reports on trade and
commerce could be secured by the
newspapers for publication; We mean, by
all the newspapers, and not by any one
or two OF them which may be preferred
BY the Secretary as the medium Of plac-
ing before the world the reports OF the
Chamber, but to this favor has it come at
last. Il having been announced in the
Appeal and Avalanche of yesterday that
these Journals would on Tuesday morn
ing publish the Chamber Of Commerce
annual statement of imports, exports,
trade, commerce, ETC., our reporter, de-
string TO give some information to the
public, as is bis duty, visited Secretary
Toof, of the Chamber, this forenoon, and
expressed a desire to have some facts and
figures, aggregates, etc., of the years
business Of Memphis az be thought would
be of interest, but Secretary Toof OBJ
jected to giving them, saying, that it
would not be treating the Appeal and
Avalanche fairly, as he had made ar.
rangements with them to have it pub
lished. and that they had gone to consid.
able expense in getting up the ruling and
figures. Our representative suggested
that be had nothing to do with either Of
these journals, but the LEDGER certainly
had a right to publish 10 advance what
it codld get as to this trade statement.
he was informed by Secretary Toof that
the Chamber Of Commerce would not
get out any pamphlet this year, and the
arrangement had been made with the
Appeal and Avalanche. and it would be
bad faith to allow any publication as to
the whole or part Of the statement in
the LEDGER in advance. Our repre-
sentative could not see it in those
lights. as he foolishly believed that the
Chamber of Commerce was a public
body Of enterprising citizens to whom il
would be q pleasure upon all occasions
to furnish the daily press with all inior.
nation connected with the trade and
prosperity Of Memphis; but the Secre-
tary seems to have scratched the LEDGER
of the favored list, If indeed it ever was
on it, which we have reason to doubt
very much, as it has not been the 6rst
time such favoritism has been shown to
the detriment Of the LEDGER and against
its readers. The whole thing is wrong
in inception and execution. II the Ap-
peal and Avalanche wish TO publish the
annual statement free Of charge, they
6nd it their interest to do 80, aud no
embargo should be placed on LEDGER
enterprise, even if it is unfor-
tunately published in the afternoon
and not in the morning. The
LEDGER begs for nothing; it asks for it
as q matter of right. If refused that
right it has no hesitancy in making the
refusal public with a view to have that
embargo raised, and that equal and exact
justice may be done at between journals
published in our city. We have on many
occasions done many gratuitous favors
to the Chamber of Commerce aud 10 the
Secretary, and now We are refused what
is not only a matter Of courtesy but a
matter of right, which proves conclu-
sively that our kindness was wasted, like
sweetness on the desert air. We can
survive the infection Of this embargo,
but We hope the intelligent and business
men Of the Chamber Of Commerce will
at some future time rectifY this matter
after having given it a thorough %inVesti-
CATION. which investigation we respect.
fully ask for.