The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-01-05
NOT a pEApHEAp.
From the Mortified News.

FROM the N0rthnelo AeNs:
Many people look upon the news
paper. fraternity as professional and
recognized "deadheads," as mendi-
cants on charity and bounty of the
public, SO says the Journalist. This
is mistaken idea, for the press pays
from ten to one thousand per cent.
return for every courtesey extended
it, The fact of the matter 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
newspaper. A road will agree to
furnish single pass in consideration
of the publication of it's schedule and
other advertising aggregating hun
dreds of dollars during the year, if
charged for at the regular rates. Be
sides the press is expected to give
publicity to all gatherings on
the line of said railway, in order to
increase its travel and business. And
yet when the proprietor or editor
occasionally boards a train and
presents his pass he is looked upon as
"deadhoad" when, in truth, were ac-
counts balanced with the road, the
latter would be found largely in debt
to the former.
In the matter of public entertain
ments, the press is expected to fill
columns with notices of the coming
entertainment, and then give it
favorable review, and yet, when the
reporter is presented with an admission
ticket he is placed in the catalogue
with "deadheads." And this, too,
after the proprietor had not only
given his space free, but paid to
printers for type setting enough cash
to buy a dozen tickets.
There is not public institution or
entertainment but owes its success to
"deadheading" newspapers, and by
imposing upon their public spirited
generosity; and when, in turn for all
this labor and cash outlay, few old
scraps are thrown at the reporter,it is
looked upon as charitable distribu,
ton.
And politicians are the most raven
Gus "deadheads" that prey upon the
press. Because newspaper advo-
Gates the principles of party it is ex
pected to fill it's columns with all
manner of plaudits for the candidates,
and spare neither labor or expense to
further their interests. But when the
battle is fought and won all their
faithful service is only too often for
gotten, and if their is distribution
of public patronage it is as apt as not
to be given to a man ON the opposing
side.
We could fill columns with such
impositions upon the press, did space
permit. There is not a business in
the world required to do as much free
work as newspaper, and the only
thanks extended for the brain work
and expenditure of each, is an
occasional free ticket to some enter
tainment, cold lunch, or table
provided at which to report proceed
ings. And yet in accepting such
empty and selfish courtesies, the
recipient must stand in the light of 6
''deadhead."
IF every other association and bust
ness would do as much free work fcl
the public as is expected andrequirec
OF the newspapers, the whole country
would either be bankrupt Or on the
biggest kind Of a boom, we are at loss
to decide which.
But we do ask, as an act of justice
and gratitude, that when you accep
of the great sacrifice made by thu
press and so freely use their space
and influence without the outlay of {
dollar, don't look upon the fraternity
as "deadheads." They pay ten folc
Or more for every courtesy or dolla
they receive.