Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-09-28
Aancastcr fntrlligenrer.
FRIDAY EVENING. SEPT. %. lses.


cheap Newspapers.
A good deal Of interest is being taken
In the question rs to whether 1t was wise
or otherwise In the New York Times to
reduce its price from four to two cents
per copy. The object Of the Times was,
of course, to increase its circulation,
and II that object is accomplished to n
sufficient extent, its movement will have
been wise for at two cents there is
still handsome surplus over the cost Of
its white paper, and an increased circu.
lation would bring an increased income
from advertising. The question of in
terest is whether a low price will cause
consider it more than likely that the
Times will not find the present results
of its movement satisfactory. As II has
a very profitable business it will be able
to stand the experiment for long while
and probably in the end its net income
will grow up to its late satisfactory
figure; but it certainly has not made a
financial strike in its bold bid for a
greater circulation. II has brought the
Herald down to two cents and may
bring the S,m down to one, or cause it
TO double its size. 1t is certain that its
cotemporaries will not let it steal
their circulation 10y rivaling them
in cheapness. The Herald can
afford to sell its sheet as low as
any paper of its size in the world, It's
great profit being in its advertising pa
tronage. The Herald meets the move
ment OF the Times and hires the broad
sides of its cotemporarieS to declare 1t
self in big type 'the cheapest newspaper
in America"
The Times will be forced to look for
its increased circulation from that class
of the community who will take two
newspapers instead of one, tempted by
their cheapness and there are good
many such. But before they can be
reached the rebellious newspapers news
dealers must be sub1ued. The city jour
nails do not in fact control their circula
tion. They sell their papers to news
dealers and do not know who their
subscribers are. 1t is an improvement
in many respects over the old fashioned
plan OF serving by carriers it Is very
easy way Of getting rid of the product of
the press and collecting the money
for it. But it has the disadvan
tage of making the newspaper
publisher dependent upon the newspaper
vender. These people have met together
in New York and resolved that they Will
not sell the Herald aud limos for less
than three cents they have to pay one
and two. thirds cents for the Herad and
one and a half cents for the Times, and
they say that there is not margin enough
of profit at two cents to cover their cost
of service. No doubt their profits would
be very much less satisfactory than they
have been. They have cause for their
discontent. The newspapers will have
to make satisfactory terms with
them, but they can hardly allow
papers ut three cents, after the owners
have reduced it to the public to two
That would be u very silly and iuCUuse
quential result to the reduc' ion business
it would be a " rcduCtiO ad absuTdum
indeed. Both the Herald aud the IjntC
are strong enough to establish their owl
news stands and agencies, but the COS
of the undertaking will not make it in
viting.
Certainly in its financial aspect tn,
reduction movement has very unprom
Using look a; but there may be cvmpensa
tions lurking in the bosom of the future
One thing that is plainly promised is al
elimination Of the weak and wcedy
journals, which have depended on thciI
cheap price for their sales. Two cen
journals will have to give full worth o
the money and the little cent fel
lows will need to 1pread GU
their dimensions to sail along il
company with their big associates
who will run down all tiny crafts will
their big hulls. The o lly comfortable
place in New ork journalism Just nov
is held by the big newspapers OF specia
circulations who charge "a high price TO
their sheets and get it from those who d
not care what they pay when they &c
what they want This is Il very larg
and greatly growing class amongst us
1t is the pleasant class to cater to
pleasant, because il recognizes the fac
that the laborer is worthy of his hire
and pleasant because it gives him JUS
recompense and credit for bis work
Those who demand the cheap rathe
than the good are many and mean; thvs
who ask for the cheap and good ar,
many and wise; while those who wan
the good at any cost are many, too, an,
wise wiLhal, if they can afford the luxury
THE Democracy OF Philadelphia hay
nominated a ticket which is entitled [
the support Of the Committee of On
Hundred and to election in it's entirety
The convention to dispose of the nom
nation Of district attorney deemed
wise to make none, in view of the col
ceded acceptability of the Republica
nominee, whose election is only feare
by disreputable element of his ow