Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-15
SAYINGS OF THE PUBLISHERS.
ALittle Sermon on Booming Circulation
"A Vertical Squint at the Editor.

From the New York Sun.
The American newspaper publishers associ-
alton met at the Hoffman house yesterday
morning in their second days session. Mr. II.
F. Gunnison of the Brookly Eagle read paper
on Newspaper Circulation and Its Relation to
Systems Of Delivery" Among other things
Mr.. Gunnison said:
'To really boom paper requires something
more than an able affidavit adjunct, or even ex-
traordinarily talented quill-drivers and pencil
showers. 1repeat what you all know, that the
prompt and economical-placing of the paper on
the market is the fortune-bringing desideratum
to the newspaper. know Of cases where dill
gent lying about circulation has been effec-
lively employed to increase the rate and guam
tity of advertising; but it is an ihegitimate and
dishonorable method of acquiring business. To
present a low grade Of goods as being some.
thing higher is false pretense in the criminal
code, and 1t should apply to claims for circula-
ton that rest only on conscienceless assertions
upon which money is drawn from advertisers,
who have right to expect honest treatment.
without going outside Of the state the news
papers OF New York can reach before noon each
day $500 900 readers; add to these the Jersey
men, Connecticut, slice of Philadelphia, a
little Of Boston. what a boundless field appears!
And yet do not believe the aggregate average
daily circulation of ali the New York morning
papers exceeds 1oU,OOO q day.
No matter how well pleased a man may be
with certain paper, he will not suffer daily
annoyances and delays in obtaining it. il there
Is another paper at hand which offers better
delivery service. The average newsdealer has
no more love for one paper than another. He
prefers to sell the paper that brings him the
most profit. 1t is, therefore, best to treat the
newsmen in purely business manner and not
attempt to seek favoritism by commissions,
discounts, and the many forms of petty SUBJ
sides SO often resorted to by publishers to push
their own paper by injuring another.
''Some managers find 1t necessary to run
special-delivery wagon of their own and to
allow unsold copies to be returned. Such
schemes are well enough as temporary devices,
but if carried too far are often positive detri-
ment and heavy loss financially"
Mr.. Gunnison said that the energetic news
boys craving for few honest coppers is the
real basis of newspaper success.
In serving dealers there is no gain to get
him your papers first He will not start on his
route until he has received his complete supply.
But to get your paper first to the newsbOy
means to secure monopoly of his valuable
services.
The following officers were chosen:
President, James W. Scott. of the Chicago
Herald.
vice-president, Col Taylor, Boston Globe
and Cal.
Treasurer, W. NJ. Laffan, Of the Sun.
Executive committee, s. H. Kaufman, WASH
ington STAR; Major w. j. Richards, Indianapo-
lis Ne,cs; J. H. Farrell, Albany Press and
Knic6erbocker; w. G. Bryant, Brooklyn Times;
and Col. L. L. Morgan, New Haven Regiser
In the afternoon about forty members visited
the Office of the Mergenthaler Printing COM
pany in Brooklyn, and witnessed the operation
of the graphophone in connection with the
linotype machine.
In the evening the publishers from out OF
town were entertained at dinner by the local
publishers. After dinner, Col Brown of the
4 Daily Ne,os said that il was the business man,
not the editor, who made the newspaper At
this Col. Henry Watterson groaned aloud.
Pointing at him Col. Brown said: .sWatterson
never could make q dollar by his writing. If
he hadn't good business manager he never
would get the money which supports his
Mr.. watterson advised the publishers ..to
keep on good terms with the fellow upstairs. /"
HALy-BREEps RESIST THE Tax Co1LxcroRs.-
The half-breeds in Rollette county, OAK are
resisting the efforts of the officials to collect
taxes and serious trouble IL feared. The sherifY
was seized by . number Of the savages and
forced TO give mp some money he had collected
! for taxes. The sheriff called for aid from the
local military company and aid was also asked
| of Gov. Church. The half-breeds are loud In
their denunciAtions Of the attempt to collect
| taxes, or rob them, e. they say, and claim they
| will resist to the last man. Sheriff Flynn has
| been notified that he viii be shot on sight.
There are about 4, 900 half-breeds on the ressr-
walton.
| H. g. nj -