New-York tribune., 1895-10-01
THE ELECTION ADTER7ISING.
PRESIDENT RoosEvELTs REMARKS IN MAKING
THE AWARDS.

PRESIDENT ROOsEVELTS REMARKS IN MAKING
THE AWARDS.
The Police Commissioners yesterday designated
"The Mercury" as the Democratic newspaper
and The Tribune as the Repuoic'n news news,
paper in which the election matter shall
be advertised They the lowest bidders
THE Morcury's" bill was 81 5s per 1.Ooo ems and
Tho Trbune's so cents per 1000 ems. In making
the awards President Roosevelt said:
This advertising in the past has been used 10 pun
ish foes and reward friends 1t has been given as
price OF political support and taken away as pun
ishment when the paper proved offensive 10 those
who controlled the action OF the Commissioners
wanted, above all things. TO get at some automatic
way by which to render impossible the use OF the
printing thus to reward political friends ana u punish
political factional foes To endeayor to ma M out
what papers possessed the largest circuaton nm
piled wadng through considerable quantity OF
perjury. II am to accept as true what sasn paper
told me OF several others, and IT seemed best ana
most busnesske to do as We have done; that is to
take dozen Of the leading papers OF the city n.y. IN,
Guiding all the daily papers of much circulation so
far as we knew them. and then among these TO @ iet
this we have saved the city about $4,000 this year
To make the matter to which Mr.. RooseTelts re-
marks rela'A and The Tribune's position with re-
gard to 1t entirely clear, 1t is only necessary 10
refer TO the letter the Police Board containing
The Tribune's bid In that letter, after citation
OF the Supreme Courts Interpretation OF the statute
governing the election advertising, IT was said:
1t is respectfully submitted that If the view above
OF the intention OF the statute is correct The New
lican newspaper for the publication OF such adver-
tisements, without regard TO any question OF the
'fair and reasonable" This should be done on the
more been recognized as the representative RepuD-
lcan newspaper Of this city, Il not of the country
many years to look to its columns for trustworthy
Information upon all political matters. official and
OF its great circulation the high standing OF the
ana its P9siiGn as as. the leading & &aph9ry ut
to Republican voters by such publication in its
The resolution Of your Honorable Board of Sep
tember 20. 1885, declares, however that Bids Qor
yp for the Whole num5er of jnserttons IONS redured
| by law, the intention OF your honorable Board
Democrac Side and the newspaper ON tbe Rnpub Re- nh,
| lican side which shall offer to make such publica
| tions required by law for the lowest price Now
advertising is not commodity like paving-stones
nor is 1t unskilled labor Ike carting garbage. for
| which proposals are sought and awards may be
perhaps judicously made to the lowest responsible
bidder It's value depends not only upon the kind Of
readers to be reached but upon the character Of
the newspaper. upon the extent to which II Is ha-
nation upon its general circulation and upon many
other factors, OF which business advertisers con-
ful note They are little likely to invite propo-
| sails for having their advertising done at the low
community to advertise for Police 'cpiT commsson-
ers who VIII Work for the lowest rate per week or
We respectfully represent. therefore. that the
method proposed by your honorable body is a de-
| parture from the spirit and intention OF the law.
az wen as from the opinion Of the Supreme Court.
and Is change OF the basis upon which. in ac-
cordance with both, the award has heretofore been
made.
Should, however your honorable body after con-
sideraton OF the point thus presented. determine
adhere TO the policy, declared in its resolutions OF
| the 2Jth them in view OF the fact that we have
had the honor for many successive years do this
] wOrk, Tor the presumed reason that The Tribune
| has best met the requirements Of the law, and in
order that no embarrassment difficulty may
arise from the su iden adoption OF this policy
| by your Honorable Board as to the designation OF
| the best newspaper 20 give TO Republican voters
the notices referred 70 In this letter the Chief Of
Bureau OF Elections. dated September 20. 1885, The
Tribune valves for the present. its protest against
the change above referred TO. and offers for this
one year TO make the publication OF boundaries OF
election districts, the location OF polling places. and
the official canvass. and fulfil the whole require
| ments OF the law. merely for the Typographical
Unions regular charge for the cost OF setting the
| type, 80 cents per 1000 ems.
| Mr. Roosevelt would have done better 10 keep
| silent under this letter rather than attempt 10
| justify action which proceeded from tlmorous
desire evade responsibility. The logic OF the Po-
| lice Boards in this matter would require
| the city TO hire Police Commissioners at the low
| est wages for which men would volunteer TO per-
| form their duties. The Board failed TO defeat en-
| trely the purpose OF the law only because The
| Tribune offered to make the city n practical gift
| OF the election Advertising The performance upon
| which Mr. Roosevelt conggatulates himself and
| the city In as cheap piece OF dema gogism VAS
ever recorded I'm the municipal annals OF N,w-