The record-union., 1893-07-01
A MATTER OF BUSINESS.

A correspondent writes to the RECORD
UNION complaining that while the news
papers are urging factory inducement
schemes, they ignore a factory that has
come into the city from another State, has
been in operation two or three weeks.
and employs from thirty-five to forty
hands. He says mot ten persons in the
city outside Of the employees know there
IS such factory in Sacramento If that
be true-but it is not-the proprietors of
the factory have no one to blame but them
selves. They know where the news
paper offices are, and precisely what the
business columns of papers are for. If
they do not choose to inform the public
concerning their business, while con-
demning their judgment we do not dis
pute their right. No man with half an
ounce Of brains expects some one else to
do that for him, which he is unwilling to
do for himself, in such a matter.
Newspapers do an enormous amount
of work for nothing already. They do
more for community veal and in advanc-
ing general schemes for public benefit,
than any other influences, and they
neither ask nor expect payment for it.
But with what justification can the news
paper face business men who pav for
Legitimate advertising, and literally an
nounce their business to the public
through business channels, if it gives up
its columns to free advertising for another
business that does not use the advertising
agencies of the press?
The idea that newspapers are run for
the health of the owners, if entertained
by any one, should be at once abandoned.
Newspapers are run as business, that
must live upon the legitimate patron
age of the people, given for value received;
by subscribers for the news and informa-
ton furnished, by advertisers for the use
of business columns in which to announce
their claims to the world. The news
papers are run at enormous cost. They
employ a small army of workers who
must be paid, whether business is flush
or fiat. The sun, moon and stars may
take day of, but the newspaper must
go on. The financial world may be in
chaos, but the newspaper must make its
appearance with toast and coffee each
morning, no matter what else in the busi-
ness world fails to report for duty.
So, if man comes to Sacramento with
a business, to avail of our natural adj
vantages and commercial centrality. and
expects the public to know of his arrival
without announcing his business as do
other men, he labors under a delusion.
He has done well to locate here, but if he
is a sensible man he does not expect the
newspaper to pause in scratching
gravel'' to advertise his business for him
without compensation. When he recog-
nizes the business columns as legitimate
avenues to business, the local side of the
newspaper responds to his new enter
prise with whatever there is of news in it
to report.
If anyone is possessed with the idea
that he has some sort of right in the
press, through which his business should
receive special favors and service with
out reward, he should hastily abandon
the idea. We do not attribute to the pro-
prietors of the mandatory referred to
by our correspondent any such spirit as
that indicated. They have right to con-
duct their own business in their own wav.
They have not made themselves known
to the press as yet, but probably will in
their own good time. They have pre-
ferred no claim for notice, it should be in
Justice said, and in response to invitation
TO announce themselves in business col
umns have expressed their unreadiness.
What they are not prepared to 90 for
themselves they do not probably expect
the press to do for them. We apprehend
! that these gentlemen understand their