The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-31
Telegraphlc Monopoly.

No one can read our Galveston letter of
yesterday without perceiving that by some
manner of means the Galveston News has
proved more influential with the superin-
tendent of the Western Press Association
than the entire press of Texas. The Post
is very far from ascribing improper mo-
tivcs to that excellent and well approved
officer, but it is quite competent to remark
that his action in RELOCATING the entire and
gigantic state OF Texas to the privilege of
weston News has leisurely dined and de-
voured the choice dishes, must have been
caused by a misunderstanding of the situa.
ton, consequent on certain plausible and
ex-parte statements. The Press Associa.
ton cannot afford to be partial or unjust.
1t is true that it is private corporation,
and competent to manage its own affairs,
but, like q railroad or steamboat line, it
must necessarily conform to certain general
laws of equity and fair dealing, or else pop.
ular oilense will be given and patronage be
withheld. The Western Press Association
desires to do safe and successful business,
and like any other company, must con-
form 10 the conditions that will favor this
end. In reference to the state of Texas,
the company had established its distribu.
ting point at Galveston simply because OF
business convenience, and that for many
years the largest paper was published at hat
point. But within the past ten or twelve
years marvellous changes have taken place.
The state has more than doubled its popu
lation, villages have grown into towns,
towns into cities, and half dozen first
class daily newspapers have sprung into
existence. These journals are published a,
various geographical and represen tative
points of the state-at Dallas, Fort Worth,
Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Gal
weston is situated III the rear OF all these
points, geographically speaking, on an
island, connected with the main land but
by one Geographic line, which is liable to
be utterly interrupted by va ious accidents,
III which case 10 other outlet to the state
may be commanded The papers of the
| state, Therefore, are dependent for their
Associated Press dspalches upon the will
| and pleasure of a journal that has no con-
nection with the Texas Press Association
through which alone associated press dis
patches can be received according to con-
tract, This introduces the serious ques-
ton of the grounds upon which the associ.
ated dispatches are granted to the Calves
| ton News or any other paper that has no
membership in the Texas Press Associa-
ton, which holds the franchise of the state
as to the dissemination of associated rress
| dispatches under contract with the IVES.
| tern Press Association. According to the
general understanding of ordinary men, It
| is not possible to deny kilograms of a spec.
ial character to any individual or paper,
but they are required to pay special rates
and are necessarily cut of from all benefits
that arise from connection with such com.
binations that succeed in establishing con
tracts with the original office. We repeat
how does the News get its associated dis,
patches, being Texan paper, without
| being member of the Texas Press Associ.
alton? 1t is said that the Telegraphic Union
prefers to have its distributing point at Gal.
weston, where more business is done than
any other place in the state. The fact can
not be denied, but the difference between
general business and that of the Associat,d
Press is very evident and 1t is but reasona-
BILE that the telegraph company should ok.
tend an accommodation of the utmost i'm.
portance to the press company. whicn is so
closely connected with it. The practical
point is, shall the whole of Texas, outside
OF Galveston, be made to suffer in the mat.
ter of news, because Of the larger tele.
graphic force kept at that city, and that, In
spite of the positive contract between the
Western Press Association and the Texas
Press Association, which contract the G al.
weston News seems to be allowed to igncr re
with impunity Houston Post.