The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-08-26
Importance of Organization Among
Newspaper Men.

Newspaper mo1.
la paper read before the Idaho Pres: Associa-
ton II its annual session in Ketchum, August a.
1893, by James H. Wallis. editor OF the Monpele1
Post.l
Self protection is one of the first laws
of nature, and mutual organization Is
considered in the same light by profess
sions of all kinds. The newspaper men
of Idaho are perhaps behind every other
profession IN this respect, not because OF
a lack of numbers, but because OF lack
| of united action. The experience OF the
oldest newspaper man in the State Will
bear me out in the assertion that there
is perhaps no profession, In Idaho that
stands IN need of organization more than
the country newspaper man. fress or
ganizations are good thing; they broad
en- the editors outlook, widen his ac-
ouaintauce, and interest, and show him
there is something of Importance going
on outside of his own little field. And
if the organization was conducted as l
would have it conducted, it would make
the average newspaper man IN our coun-
try towns realize that they were something
more than journalistic footballs to be
kicked around at the whim and notion OF
the political deadbeat aud the small
souled ever grumbling merchant. AS 1t Is
many of US are afraid to say our souls our
own for fear some lorldly politician, with
a pull, will pnunce down upon us, or some
unjust patrons desert US for rival. Cam
paipn orators and Office seekers. have seen
their names placarded and avdvertiseo IN
the local press, have had their addresses
punctuated by applause, their appearance
preceded by the blare OF trumpets ana
the beating Of drums and cymbals, and
their approach to and departure from the
place of meeting accompanied by march
ing hosts with glare of torch, and shout
and cheer, and yell, with "the rockets red
glare, bombs bursting in air." They
have seen all this, but their souls, filled
with their own glory, have never allowed
them to see the condition of the men who
have penned the words which have met
the eyes and appealed to the sense OF the
voters. Nameess they have been IN the
subsequent success, and yet they have
been the men who have fought half Of
the fight. Our late state and county elec
, tions tell you whether this picture is over
, drawn or not. Newspaper men were
promised financial aid for the influence
of their papers in the fight, but instead
the money that they should have had was
t literally thrown around the saloons, while
8 the very men who should have had 1t and
= were entitled to it were turning theli
hairs gray wondering how they were go
ing to pay their paper bills or their taxes
would urge, proper action on the part OF
Y this association that such instances may
e be avoided on future occasions, Tor 1t Is
] traversty on journalism when they are
I tolerated. I am perfectly aware that
will be met with the question: "HoV
are YOU going to do itl' yet l am als'
aware that this association is equal to tn
emergency and that conclusive actor
: should be taken by US. We would charg
, our merchant advertising rates for slmila
!. work, and why not the dealer IN polltlca
y merchandise.
:, The importance of organization is ap
q parent in the matter of advertising to
foreign firms and agencies. Within tn
- last twelve months great number or th
papers of the state have been swindled D
accepting offers of most magnificent price
for large amounts of foreign advertising
;, Not until the time for col olIecting the firs
" lnstaliment of the agreed contract pric'
for the work has it been known tn
It concern was a dead beat. Our organ
q lzatlon should provide for the first pape
!. having knowledge of advertising frauds
: either through their individual expellenc
or reliable sources, to communicate Wit
n the secretary of the association, who's
duty we should make it to notify by put
e Iication in the paper he is identified wit
v or by letter, the full particulars In n
l. possession.
= Then it would be good idea for thi
= association to adopt a scale of prices fc
% foreign advertising,-that Is, at lea!
q prices to regulate the country newspaper
OF course this would be difficult in tn
le case of the daily. But in the matter
% the country weekly it would be goo
:, move. for then the advertiser would eitht
have to pay the one price or seek helt
. outside of the State for his wares. As
d is the country newspaper man is his VIII
S. ING slave, He loads his paper with lou
patent medicine cuts, $40 column gros
IA and the result is that in too many lnsta'
ces the paper becomes an eye,sore',
which the respectable local merchant OF
% comes dlsgusted, and the subscriber tire
That proper organization can accon
m plish great and much needed results
ne plainly manifest in the recent leglslatio
secured for the press at the late sesslt
of the state legislature, and for secuflu
which this association is greatly indebtt
to those men who had the welfare OF Il
20 newspaper men at heart. Now there
ne more work to be done in this directlo
IN prominent in which would suggest Il
- passage of a law to compel the publicati'
7u of new Legislation as fast as it is approve
,r. Our law makers compel our cities al
ly town interpretations to publish their c
az diuances, and yet they have failed
.r- make any provision for the publicatl
:; Of the much more important leglslatl
= with which the people of the entire Sta
70 are interested. The committee on leg
tx lation should be entrusted with the wo
at OF preparing a bill to be introduced
of the next session of the legislature, q
II which should provide for the pubicatl
-, in at least one paper in each county, q
% at least in one issue of that paper, OF
Ia. new laws, to be paid out OF the gene
nd fnnd of the county in which the work
nd done. If Ignorance of the law excu'
if no man." then it is an injustice LOT
an people to be expected to know every n
- law our legislators enact, when they
Ct not provide any means for the people
'io gain that information.
10 On this matter also I would 1rge
)ot amending of the estray law. so that 1t '
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