Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-05-13

prosperous, as happy and as highly
respected as we are? We must confess
these evils result from a lack of judg-
ment, courage and manhood. This
is a broad confession for many of US to
make, but the facts are plain to every
one-and facts are stubborn things.
We ought to be honest with ourselves,
for by so doing we may be enabled to
improve our condition.
Let us turn from this dark picture of
reality to a bright future. Suppose we
slightly reverse the order of things.
= .,o''+ies We should have a voice, and
be permitted to IuiIy anu freely dis
cuss measures and men, in our respec-
tive parties before nominations are
made, and demand a ticket composed
of honorable and competent men. We
should never onnlve at official mis-
conduct in cur own party any nor
than we would at the corruption of the
opposition, but we should always criti-
else fairly and h%onorably.
Then suppose that instead of allow
ing advertisers to manage that depart
ment of our business, We take charge
ourselves, adopt a scale of prices which
will be reasonable, so that when we
are asked what a certain amount of
space is worth for a stated period, we
a answer promptly, and name the
same price for the same work every
time the question is asked. If the ad-
yertiser complains of the rate being
high, present the merit of your journal
as an advertising medium. i'll a plain,
truthful way; express your appreciation
of the patronage protfefed, but say
kindly and firmly, that the price
named is the lowest you can make.
.Such a course>will in every instance
challenge respect, and in a majority of
cases the advertiser will accept your
terms, and 60 away feeling better than
had he dealt with a mental, dependent
upon patronage bestowed through SYM
pathy. Suppose instead of giving ad-
vertisers free locals to the amount of
half the value of their advertising, we
just give them what they pay for-no
more, no less. And instead of heaping
unmerited praises upon the vain and
conceited, we let every man stand upon
his merit, and let the rule apply to Of
ficials as we'll. Suppose we base our
competition with each other upon mer-
it. Let US make the contest as lively
as we please, but never degenerate in
to an effort to injure each other. Never
inJure your brother publisher in a bust
ness way, as such a course can be ofno
possible benefit to any me-. Get all
the business you can, but if you cannot
get certain work do not try to keep
your neighbor from getting it.
Take the item oflegal printing. Sup
pose we all charged the rate allowed
by law? Then the contest would be
confined to amatter of merit and friend
ship, and each publisher would secure
the patronage of his friends, or those
of the public upon whom he may i'm.
press his superior claims. There would
be just as much public printing If we
charged the fees we are entitled to as
If we did it for nothing. And if one
does the work for half price his neigh
Dor will cut 1nder him, and so it goes.
Then why will publishers engage in
this throat-cutting business to their
financial detriment, for no publisher
ever profted by such a course.
Publishers ought never allow any,
thing to interfere with their business
courtesy. The members of no profess
sion or business gould be so indepen-
dent, and occupy a position TO COM
mand universal respect and patronage.
and be Subjected to less annoyances
than Journalists and publishers if they
would simply adhere to business prin.
ciples, and follow the dictates of COM
mon sense. A little independence, a
little courage, and a little manhood is
all that is necessary to place us upon
the plane indicated. But so long as
We go about our business in a half
hearted, whining, begging spirit, like
some timid woman begging aims; fear
ing to present our business in a bust
ness way, as in other lines; or Just 30
long as we are not content to look after
our W interest, but through envy and
wrath attempt to destroy one another,
Just so long may We expect our patrons
to take advantage of these weaknesses,
and render us dependent upon patron
age bestowed with the air of a phara-
saical charity offering.
Our annual gatherings ought to bring
us nearer together in the discussion OF
those subjects which are beneficialin a
business way. | would not be under
stood as harshly or unnecessarily call
ing attention to the d~isagreeabe truths
with which we are all conversant, but
shall we lie supinely on our backs I'M
til our feet and hands are tied, and the
modest advertising agent and the man
who has discovered an end to bone
scraping have our business in their
own hands. And right here is one
of the greatest of all evils. Look at
the leverage country paper! Almost
every other item on the local page is of
this bone scraping character. The To-
cal page-the most interesting of all
pages-is filled to overlooking with a
class of local ads taken at ruineus
rates. The subscriber has some rights
that sooner or later we are bound to
respect, and the nostrum puffs in our
local columns will have to 60.
But, in conclusion, whatever may
be our political relations with our es-
lsemed contemporary, or the handy
legged, cross-eyed ,..knock-kneed dude,
who rims the diaH.rao IN tfa onDoo;to
side of the street, nothing should inter
fere with onr adhering to principle
when business is to be had.
The committee on resolutions re-
ported fayorably on the following
subjects:
Authorizing the nresidenf to an.