Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-11-30

him for a dollars worth of space as a free
gift. Another puts his request on the
ground that ha is patron. Another, that
his scheme is for the public benefit. and it
is the duty of the editor to the public, not
alone to the advertiser. to forward it by all
the means In his power. On this plan we
have seen deeply pious man run whole
church Observation-Disclosures, notices. re-
freshments, and all, without it's costing
him cent. But the smartest business
men will try the public occasion dodge
which it is hard for the editor to get
around. Take the case above uf our FREUD,
whose letter Leads this article, ard a most
excellent gentleman he is, and his com.
plant about neglecting to notice his
wares. The G.m he represents is not
known to the VINDIcAToR s cash drawer !;
the editor has no earthly interest IN his
wares. and vt his complaint is real and
sircere. at he regards himself as an in
Jured man because he hasn't received
favor for which he could establish no DOS
sitle claim.
Editors are. after all. but human, aud
lite the rest Of human kind they are e, at4-
ful for al the friendship they GIT. aud are
apt to r'pay it at the first opportunity
WI iaepublic occasion comes, they have
az opportunity to give their advertisers a
;'ping hand, and do so willingly, and are
AZ likely to help their -advertisiny
competitors great deal. They ale not
more worldly Than other people, but they
are quite enough so to keep sharp
,okour for the le2i0ns who are ever seek
ing to secure the use of their property
without paying for it. Unlike, however,
other business, the refusal of the e iitor to
be imposed on is at once construed into
hostility not only to the would-be benefici l.
ary, but to some public interest. If he re
fuses to allow the giver of fair premium
TIE free use Of bis advertising columns for
his wares, he is at once set do wn as hostile
to the agricultural interests of his comfy
If he refuses to notice the production of
some manufacturer, he is charged with
being Indifferent to the progress and sue
cess of the community. If he won't b.
chiseled out of his job work, advertising
space and a good notice." by some pious
worker for church scheme, he is at once
set down as an infidel, OF at best as having
" loose ideas about religion" If he de-
clines giving up his newspaper for the free
and unlimited use Of some scheming ward :
politician who is seeking for sufficient noto-
riety to get small place, he is placed
among the list Of doubtful party men. 1t
Is difficult for the puzzled editor, after can
wasting all the claims upon his property to
decide whether his paper belongs to the
church, the party, the public generally or
himself. In fact if all claims on it were
allowed. his interest in the property would
go very little beyond the privilege of liqui.
dating the payroll at tbs end of each
| week.
But all these crude ideas about the
! privileges Of others than the proprietors,
in newspapers, are unbusiness like, child
ish and absurd, and as the town enlarges
the people will grow out of them. A news
paper is like any other business establish
| ment and must be conducted on the same
principles, or go under. The editor must be
business man and meet his obligations
like one, and, this being so, must see to
it that bis property is not used by others
fres of charge to the detriment of its rev.
enue.