The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-14

! to know better than he the extent of the infu-
ence Of his paper, and the benefit likely to
accrue to the advertiser from an advertise
saaat inserted in his journal This may be
considered a brocd assertion, bnt in my
opinion, ii is a correct one. As to the price Of
subscription, I hold the same views as to the
matter of advertising. A few years ago
/ friend of mine who was publishing a paper
/ in this State at the time, consulted me with
regard to the best means of extending the cir
! culatioa of his paper aud, with this view, pro-
/ posed to reduce his subscription from $500 to
$100 | answered by saying that | did not
see how with present pricesl q journal could
be published in Mississippi for less than 81 90
per annum and 81 ggested that it we're better
for him to improve his paper-make 1t more
interesting and attractive, and not reduce his
/ rates As to the rates allowed by our State
laws, at present, for legal advertisements, this
Association, in my opinion, has no just cause
of complaint. Considering them, as do, fair
aud just to all concerned.
PRESS NOR PROPERLY APPRECIATED.
candor tompels me to say, that while the
Press Of Mississippi is probably more efficient
than ever before, yetwe are not reaping that
reward financially that we deserve. Why is
this Because the power and usefulness OF
/ the Press is not recognized aud properly ap-
! preciated by our people. l have often re-
| marked myself that with an investment OF
| ten dollars in an apple stand, instead of the
hundreds l have invested in newspapers
using the same energy, industry and economy
that have in my present business-that
| would have been worth $500 to-day, where l
| cannot count one; and have grown up, as il
were, inside OF printing office. We are part
| ly to blame for this ourselves, however. Take,
for instance, the office hoders-State, district
and eouDtq-and see how it works. Many OF
| them to-day hold lucrative places secured
mainly through the influence of the Press,
and they contribute comparatively little to
keep alive and sustain that Press. Our men
/ in position frequently issue circulars and adj
dresses and send out their speeches for publ
cation. These find place in our columns,
| Tor which no charge is made, but they make
character on account of these publications
/ and are thus kent longer in office-thereby
adding the weight of their purse aud in
/ tiuenee, while we simply occupy the position of
/ "hewerS of wood and draSor3 Il water"
/ Again, we fiBd when many of these officials
| got into power, they forget their obligations to
the State papers, TO that extent as to be will
| ing to send their printing TO other States, to
the impoverishment of their home organs.
Let us, say, put our foot down on this proce-
dure, and assert our rights and independence.
Say to them that our paper and advertising
space is worth much, and you, gentlemen,
must recognize 1t, or you are no part or parcel
of us. This is the true course, and the most
successful one, and if we cannot sustain our
selves on this basis, let us close office
doors and seek some other aVocation. There
is not that independence among us that should
be. We will dismiss the office holder for a
moment and devote our attention to the office !
seeker. This man has a large appetite for
othee-his cry to the dear people is to give. |
give, and is never satisfied except when using |
his endeavors to achieve the object of his de-
street.-The. His friends write unanimously |
about him, and to hear them talk he is |
The fairest among ten thousand and altogether |
lovely but did you ever hear Of newspaper |
man being paid for publishing the letters of
"Voy Populi, "Aristides or Pillow, Handles" |
-euogizing to the skies their fav0rite candi |
dates. Rarely ever, presume. The members !
of our Association should charge for such COM
munications, and should make these aspirants
know that if they would dance they must pay
the fiddler. We are too prone to lend the use
of our columns to build up others to the deple-
ton Of our own purses. What would have
been the condition of our State to-day had it
not been for the unpurchasa61e Democratic
Press (excuse me for do propose TO deliver q
political speech(? We all remember when
aliens had control of our affairs, and how they
used their positions to the detriment of the
bona-fde citizens of Mississippi We all re-
member, too, that at that time many of our
best people were discouraged and were ready,
IN despair, to surrender TO the enemy, but, be
II said to its credit, the Press spoke out aud
said in thuader tones we will have none of
this. Now see the result: Are we are not en-
titled, then, to the hearty support of those
whom we aidsd in delivering from the house
of bondage, many of whom we assisted in
raising to power. l say yes, and those who do
not recognize this obligation should be re-
membered for all time TO come bv the members
of this Association. "Ingratitude is the base
est of crimes" Another point under this
head; The communities in which many of The
journals of cur State are published do not do /
their duty by them. A good paper in all
towns and cities of any importance, whatever,
is a necessity, and should be fosered and well
supported by the citizens thereof. But it. oc-
ours many times that when publisher
establishes a paper at q place, fair promises
are made and good patronage bestowed upon
him at first, but after a few months he is con-
sidered fixture, patronage is Withdrawn from
him, and he is lett to paddle own canoe
This has happened in number of instances in
our State, TO my knowledge In such a case
as this, my advice would be the publisher to {
shake the dust of that place off his feet as a
testimony against such ungrateful people In
that event, it would be with that community !
like it is with our departed loved ones-wa ,
never know how to appreciate them until they /
are taken from us. / am one who is not in
favor of publishing paper simply for glory |
and claim that the press of Mississippi is b
equal Go that of any other Southern State, and
it we do receive it at the hands of Que people, e
we should endeayor to do so at the hands CT =
another.
THE DUTY or THE PRESS TO THE PUBLIC. Il
While discussing upon these topics, we c
should not be unmndful of the duties we owe
to the public. 1t should be our con slant aim TO Il
publish good paper-to bestow that thought Il
and labor upon 1t that will make it welcome
visitor at every freside-at least in the section p
where it is printed. Our first duty is to the com 81
nunity in which we live, and we should always u
10 our utmost to promote its every interest y
We should publish a creditable journal filled II
with such matter as will not cause the blush fc
10 come even TO the check of the most sensi-
tive and refined woman, and by all means we W
should publish a neat paper that will reflect ~
credit upon those we represent; and if our N
'ur paper Is due at given hour, daily or -
weekly, be sure il is sent out at that time To al
PATRONS, we must be prompt in all Of our 0
IHairs. One mistake | think some of us make w
we try to give more reading matter than our sb
will Justify. 1t is not always the |
eading matter that is most appreciated
here is much in the character and oudhty of ne
our articles. Mental food must be wei pre- &c
ared as well as the food which sustains the VI
uman body. For instance, an inferior cook OF
hight prepare meal of fifty dishes that N
vOuld not be relisbed as much as a meal of y.
We dishes prepared by one who understood OF
etter the art culinary. Editors and publish OF
rs should always do their duty to the public, A..
nd leave the consequences to a higher au 'o
iority. an
ADVERTISING AGENTS. we
A word now as to advertising agencies.
ONE of our State papers have had much 10 Nj
~ in regard to them, and some have even
dvised against accepting any business from th
leh source. In my opini IN this is wrong,
} far as the reliable agents are concerned .e
id there are number of these doing bust Vi
ess IN the various cities of the Union-Nortb
I'D South. They are useful adjuncts to our %
1siness. Il Is true they Go not offer, at all
mes, remunerative rates, but then have we Ph
OF the glorI lus privilege of rejecting them2
ertainly. We are not forced to consider their 20,
roposition by any law known to the State of "a
Mississippi, and that is something to be -
lankful for, at least. In my own business. SIT
rarely ever accept advertisements at prices
rst offered by the agencies. Wien they of
axe propositions to me l reject them If not
asonable, and accept them if the case is bn
herWise, but always give reasons for re-
sing TO accept their terms. 1t is a matter. u
'wever, that each publisher must decide for pa
mself, and with an eye single 10 what he
insiders his best interest mel
FREE PASSES.
The question of the 'free pass" system de-
ands some attention at my hands Newspa-