The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-09-21
Volksfest Advertising.

The Volksfest, through its committee,
adopted a report which designated what
each newspaper OF the city was to re-
ceive for advertising the affair. This
report was made without consulting the
offices as to their rates or their wishes
in the matter, and has resulted in leav-
ing the enterprise without any great
amount of extra booming on the part Of
the papers, not because they wanted
more patronage. or any, for that matter,
but because ofthe apparent unfairness
In the makeup of the committee by
having representative of only one pa
per upon IL. No one can say that the
LIGnT has ever been selfish In its advo-
caoy of any and everything that would
tend to benefit the city, and 1t has given
of its space and whatever of Its ability
freely and cheerfully to accomplish that
end. This matter Is here alluded TO
simply because n number of persons
have asked the LIGHT why il was not
booming the Volksfest as largely as 1t
did that Of two years ago. Newspapers
do large amount Of work for glory, but
when the committee of an association
deliberately decide to do so much, and
set the price themselves in the way of
advertising, they cannot expect only the
regular business rates OF advertising in
return, and just what they pay for.-San
Antonio Light.
As the above reflects on the Directory
of the Volksfest association, and es-
pecially on Its advertising committee,
deem IL proper, as the Chairman Of that
committee, to make some reply.
The position | hold was accepted re-
luotantly. 1t was certainly unsOught.
There Is no pay attached to Ii, but Il in
wolves considerable hard work. Where
glory comes In | am as yet unable to see.
When | wished to resign the Directory
would not accept my resignation.
suppose the Volksfest Directors thought
could do the work assigned me. /
shall do my best not to disappoint them.
They allowed me to name the adyertis-
ing committee. subject to their approval.
thought It best TO make up the commit
tee from the different interests repre-
sented In the Volksfest association, and
not OF newspaper men, who might be
charged with having direct personal
interest in the advertising. The com
mittee was unanimously approved by
the Directory.
The LIGnTis certainly in error when
IL says the committee deliberately deci-
ded to do so much advertising
and 9" set the price themselves.
The fact is, certain amount
of money was set apart for each paper,
and 1t was left entirely optional with the
papers as to how much advertising they
would do for that amount. The money
was appropriated to remunerate them
for whatever service they might see fiji
to render, editorial or otherwise, and IL
was taken for granted that every paper
in the city was favorable to the Volks.
fest and would do all In Its power Il
make IL n success.
Why should the LIGHT be dissatisfied
have 1t from its manager that the
appropriation for IL Is more than double
the amount received for advertising tn,
last Volksfest. Every paper In the city
Is getting more than 1t received on tina
occasion.
l submit that, just now, when thu
directory and the committees are al
working hard to make the Volksfest ,
success, and doing SO without pay, is |
poor time to have any controversy ovel
this matter. i do not believe any cit
paper should withhold its support iron
our enterprise on any such excuse as tn,
LIGHT makes, especially rs II sees tit Il
place the advertisement of the Volks
fest in its columns, and acoep
the amount appropriated to 1t. Blu
should our city paper, or papers, see II
to withhold their support from the pub
lie enterprise we have undertaken, Will
am not authorized to speak for the as
ISOLATION, think | can say that the di
rectory and the committees will &
ahead and do their best to make tn
they will succeed in SO doing. Their
are too many people Interested In TIL
enterprise for 1t to be killed outright.
WILLIAM FERGUSON,