The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-23

"A sssse UoRes p0Dl1BhefS' preface.
oevefa sample pages Of the directory and
iiiustretions OF the Worlds fair buildings.
= ven . whoie-page display advertise
ments. On an insert in the book was
printed . statement, over the signature Of
resident II. \. Higginbotham, to the
enecs that w. B. Conkey 4 Co.
we're the exclusive publishers Of the
omcaal Directory Of the Worlds Fair"
In the publishers preface the exclusive
ness OF the work was dwelt upon, together
Win the statement that it was the only
work which would be permitted to be cir
cuiated on the fair grounds containing
advertisements. The statement was also
made that 10000 copies of the work
would be circulated, and perhaps 900, 600.
VI this number. 5000 copies
were TO be donated to the Worlds
columbian exposition. The books were to
be placed on steamers, in railroad depots,
hotels and other public places. in addi-
ton to being circulated on the fair
grounds. Mr.. Darlington carried blank
contracts and a schedule OF prices for the
advertising. ranging from $500 to $500 per
page, and the price of copies Of
the book was fixed at $3.50.
The contract is a mere promise to nay to
w. B. Conkey or order - dollars for the
insertion of the subscribers advertisement
in the designated position. upon publica-
ton Of the work. One-half of the contract
price was to be paid to the agent At the
time of making the contract. No pro-
vision was made for furnishing to the ad-
vertiser proof of performance Of any of the
representations made by the publishers or
agent.
Mr.. Harrington appeared before the
Chamber Of Commerce and asked that
body to take one or more Of the $500 page
advertisements, but his proposition was
not considered. 1t Is presumed that he
has solicited individual advertisements
from business firms here. He subse-
quently made . proposition to the Com
merciai Club. of Tacoma, to give that city
an exclusive advertisement, out this Offer
was rejected.
Soon after Mr.. Harrington started to
work here. EASTWOOD & Fry, who have .
concession for publishing the Evergreen
Souvenir" learned OF the matter.
and as his work was interfering
with theirs, they set to work to
investigate the representations made
by Conkey d Co. in their prospectus.
and they said that the concession of the
Chicago firm prohibits any display adyer-
Using whatever in the official directory or
catalogue, exhibitors being limited to
only seven lines of reading matter each
At IS a line, and the book to be sold at 10
cents copy.
The point of this prohibition is that it
extends only to books circulated on the
Worlds fair grounds, as that is the only
territory over which the exposition has
any control. OF course. the publishers can
take the same plates used in the work
gotten out for distribution in tho
fair grounds and print another edi-
ton bearing the same title for
distribution outside of the grounds and in
this edition they can insert advertise
ments. But any other publisher can do
the same thing by getting copy Of the
official catalogue. Thus. this company is
seeking to make contracts with people for
their outside edition on the strength Of
their exclusiveness inside the Worlds fair
grounds.
A reporter for the PosT-INTELLIGEYCER
interviewed Mr.. Harrington. who IS a
gentlemanly appearing man, on the sub
ject, and he said:
know nothing about the scheme Of the pub
fishers except what 10 contained In
the prospectus I am only sub-agent
appointed by man named h. &
Ellis, who has the agency for the Pacific coast,
and il there is . prohibition against circulating
the book with display advertisements in the
fair grounds then II 10 obtaining money under
false pretsnses and shall have nothing to do
with It
Mr.. Harrington wired Conkey & Co. on
tho 18th about the matter and they re-
piled that they had written about it to
him. This letter has not yet arrived. and
yesterday Mr.. Harrington said that evil
IDENTIFY Conkey's promise to write was .
blind, and that he was convinced there
were to be two editions of this work, or
some such scheme as that.