Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-04-10
Evils of the Credit System.

among newspaper puOIlSnerS IN
this country outside of our leading
cities, there prevails an almost univer-
sal credit system-a system that is as
old as the newspaper press itself, and
a system that is fraught with dis
advantages and difficulties in every
direction. We believe we hazard
nothing in assuming that no class of
business men in the community suf-
fers to so great an extent from the
evils of the extended credits as the
newspaper publishers. Instead of
decreasing with the rapid growth and
general prosperity of the whole coun-
try, the system appears to be getting
a stronger foothold from year to year,
and it would seem high time that
publishers should take cognizance of
the fact, and cut loose from its perni-
cious influences and demand from
patrons the same consideration that
other tradesmen receive. The
average country publishers take sub
scrlptiOns on a years term. When
due, perhaps twenty-five to fifty per
cent. pay up promptly, twenty-five
per cent, pay when it suits their con-
venience, aud the remainder never
pay In the latter instances the
amounts are so small and the chances
so slim that the publisher does not
care to take the risk of paying out
more in the effort to force collections
than he is likely to get back again.
He endures the imposition until he
can stand it no longer, and finally
cuts off the dead BEATS
and relegates their worthless
Indebtedness to his profit
and loss account. What greater right
has man who subscribeS for news
paper for one year to ask or expect
credit from the publisher than he has
to ask his grocer, hardware or dry
goods dealer to trust him one year for
$1.50 or $500 worth of goods? Gus
tom is the only excuse for it, and we
feel fully justified in denominating it
an abominable custom-the undOubted
curse associated with country news
paper publishing and the one that
keeps many a publishers 'Fnose to the
grindstOne" year in and year out. It's
baneful affects are visible everywhere
in his business. He cannot afford to
furnish as much reading matter, or as
large a paper as he would wish neither
ments in the mechanical departments
of his office to sustain his paper in
| typographical appearance to the
standard of metropolitan sheets with
which he is obliged, in a measure, to
complete. He buys only what he can
| not get along without, and frequently
runs in debt for that, thereby paying
considerable more than he would if he
could 60 into market with the cash for
his purchases. In short, he is placed
at great disadvantage, no matter in
what direction he moves, and his lot
is discouraging one. Thus, also,
those who force him into this position
by asking credit, not only strike a
blow at their country paper, but at
themselves as well, and would reap
part of the benefits of a reformation.
Very frequently those who subscribe
for home paper also take one from
abroad. They never thing of ask
ing for credit from the foreign
publishers; then why from the
home publisher? The prac-
tice is one that should no longer be
tolerated, and publishers who have
their own welfare at heart should lose
no time in abolishing it. In our iudg-
ment list of 500 advance paying sub
scribers is of greater advantage to the
publisher than list of 1000 on the
credit plan. The adoption of the
advance-pay system would doubtless
result in the loss of some Subscribers,
but we imagine the loss would only
be temporary. Those who subscribe
for the country paper take it. as
rule, for local news-news that can
not be obtained elsewhere e-and as
soon as they learn that the publisher
conducts his business on business prin-
cipIes, they will fall into the habit of
paying him as they do the publishers
of foreign papers. 1t is @ correct say
ing that if you place a low estimate
on the value of your own product
(and crediting subscriptions to Tom
Dick and Harry on their own time is
doing just the thlng) others are apt to
place lower value. The editors of
the different states meet in conven-
ton once year, and we sincerely
hope and would recommend that at
the various meetings TO be held next
summer this subject Will be discussed
and some united acton taken to Grad
ics te the evil. It is old enough and
done mischief enough to be placed on
the retired list