Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-21
DECEIvING WASHINGTON MERCHANTS
Failure of IN Ass~mpt On Array Them Agsi.ss
The City Newspsy~r..

Failure of IN Ass~mps tn Array Them Agsi.ss
The City N~~epsP>r~-
The adjourned meeting Of merchan6 70 hear
the report Of Mes~n. Lisner. Lothrop end
Leidy. the committee appointed week ago 20
call upon the Newspaper publishsrs in relation
70 an alleged discrimination by the advertising
department against Washington nerehsssa
was held last night
Mr.. Lothrop read a report signed by Mr.. Lac
ner as chairman Of the committee briefly
stating that the COMMITTEES had performed h.
duty and Recommending that the whole matter
be dropped, Mr.. Lothrop supplemented the
msSs Of "a. T i1,sr,.s detailed ed. '; ne
newspaper publishers and the information OBJ
tanned from other sources about advertising
They had found, he said, the merchants had
been betrayed into Q mistake in Tie
matter ,S.s the .la ~; s:''ms s..: and
exactly the reverse Of what had been sts,eA
20 the merchants After their interviews with
the publishers the matter was put in an en-
tireiy different light II had been reprs-
scented 20 the merchants that the papers of
Baltimore would not insert for washingtoa
merchants advertisements Of the character
that had been published in Washington by Q
baltimore firm. This the committee had found
upon inquiry 60 be untrue. He believed the
papers here had right 20 take such
what was customary in every city.
He was convinced that both THH srAa end
the other papers here were determined 20 do
all a., IN their power TO advance the interests q
Washington.
Mr. Leidy seconded what Mr.. Lothrop ssid.
and stated he was thoroughly convinced Shss
they had made Q mistake in the matter.
Several speeches were made during the shors
session held, aud all of them were strongly
Hinged with indignation against what seemed 70
a hsa.sra ra..<I.k "a ~
ers Of a weekly sheet 10 prejudice business men
ments
One OF the men connected with the weekly in
question insisted that his stateme nts had been
correct IN saying q certain Baltimore paper
would not insert an Advertisement 81 the char
acter published In \ Washington paper becauae
!, u. would not use the kind Of type used in the
washington paper.
Mr.. George fopham declared this statement
as mere clubbing. II had not been the type,
but the wording Of the advertisements that lad
been in question.
One OF the gentlemen present said: II think
IL was fraud, an absolute fraud, 10 bring bust
ness men here 10 further the interests OF riyal
newspaper-to bring ne here for a lot Of tom
iooiery Speaking Of one Of the men con-
nected with the weekly paper referred 90 the
speaker remarked: TO crown the impudence
OF the whole proceeding. he prssed to rs about
a brotherhood Of merchants while he VA. here
trying TO stab the brotherhood OF men engaged
In the same business as himself"
motion was carried accepting the report OF
the committee and discharging it from further
service with thanks.
Mr.; George Topham suggested that as the
merchants had been deceived in this matter
they should do ssomething 10 set the news
papers right before the public
Mr. Lothrop said he thought what had been
said and done at this meeting was sufficient for
that.
The meeting then, on Mr.. Leidys motion,
adjourned sine die.
Those present all gave evidence Of their
agreement with the statements made by Mr.
Lothrop and others, and appeared 10 be very
much disgusted over the deception practiced
on them, and the attempt made through mis-
leading statements TO array business men Of
Washington against the leading newspapers Of
the city.