Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1892-12-30
Not a Deadhead.

Many people look upon the newspa-
per fraternity as a professional and rec
ognized "deadheads'' as mendicants on
charity and bounty Of the public, so
says the Journalist. This is a mistken
idea, for the press pays from ten to one
thousand per cent return for every cour-
tesy extended it. The fact of the mat
ter is, the shoe is on the other foot.
Let us take the railroads and see how
accounts balance between these great
arteries of commerce and the newspa-
pers. A road will agree to furnish &
single pass in consideration of the pub
LEGATION of its schedule and other adyer-
Using aggregating hundreds of dollars
during the year, it charged or at the
regular rates. Besides the press is ex
pected to give publicity to give to all
gatherings OH the line of said railway,
in order to increase its travel and b1si- |
ness. And yet when the proprietor or
editor occasionally boards train aud
presents his pass he is looked upon as a
".leadheod" when, iu truth, were ac-
counts balanced with the road, the lat
ter you'd be found largely in debt to
the former.
In the matter of pablie entertain
ments, the press is expected to fill col
ums with notices of the coming enter
tainment, and then give it a favorable
review; and yet, when the reporter is
presented with an admission ticket he
is placed IN the catalogue with dead
heads.' And this, too, after the pro-
prietcr had not only given his space
free, but payed to printers for type set
ting enough cash to buy dozen tickets.
There is not a public Institution or
entertainment but owes its success to
''deadheading' newspapers, and by
3 imposing upon their public spirited
, generosity; and Then, in turn for all
this labor and cash outlay, few old
scraps are thrown at the reporter, it is
looked upon as a charitable distribu-
!, ton.
5 And politicians are the most raven
) Gus "deadheads" that prey upou the
E press. Because newspaper advocate
the principals of a party it is expected
to fill its columns with all manner of
: plaudits for the candidates, and spare
: neither labor or expense to further
a their interests. But when the battle is
!, fought and won all their faithful service
:, is only too often forgotten, and if there
is distribution of public patronage il
as apt as not to be given to man or
IS the opposing side.
}. We could fill columns with such i'm
Y positions upon the press, did space per-
nit. There is not a business in the
world required to do as much free work
as the newspapers, and the only thanks
y extended for she brain work and ex
IS peuditure of cash, is an occasional free
a ticket to some entertainments, colo
J.. lunch, or table provided at which to re
- port proceedings. And yet in accept
10 ing such empty and selfish courtesies
Is the recipient must stand in the light O.
;e a "deadhead."
" If every other association and bust
y ness world do as much free work TO
J. the public as is expected and required
of the newspapers, the whole countr,
would either be bankrupt or on the big
9 gest kind of a boom, we are at loss t,
u decide which.
l. But we do ask, as an act of justice
5. and gratitude, that when yon accept o
y the great sacrifice made by the pres
, and so freely use their space and in
" fluence without the outlay Of a dollar
don't look uyon the fraternity as dead
n heads.' They pay ten fold or more 70
n every courtesy or dollar they receive.