The Advocate and news., 1897-12-22
have IT In their power, II they will, to
see that a change is made.
YOUR AssIsTANCE wANTED.

The editor OF the Advocate and News
intends that each number of the paper
shall be an improvement over the pre-
Ceding issue. He Is desirous OF elimi-
mating any features which do not en-
hance the value Of the paper to It's read
ers and Of adding any new ones which
will aid in making the Advocate and
News the leading Kansas weekly and
the leading reform paper Of the country.
A newspaper may be classified among
what are known as public utilities; "
1t Is something more than a mere mon
ey-maker for It's owner and It's readers
who depend upon 1t for news and, to
some extent, for guidance as to action to
be taken in public matters are entitled
to some voice In controlling the char
acter Of the matter which is placed be-
fore them weekly. Therefore the edi-
tor Of this paper sollcits advice which
will aid him in improving the tone and
influence Of the publication. This is not
a. new idea. It has been carried out
before by many papers, but 1t has gen
orally ended with the simple request,
and the reader has had no recompense
for his trouble. This Is hardly fair to
him, and to make the matter equitable
the Advocate and News makes the fol-
lowing proposition:
To any person who will answer the
following questions, looking at them
from his own standpoint, adding any
additional opinions that he sees fit and
sending his answer to this paper, the
Advocate and News will give q paid-up
subscription for two months from the
date Of his answer. This is a fair offer.
The paper is certainly worth something
to you, and your opinion Of the way in
which the paper can be improved will
be Of value to the editor The answers
are not for publication, and should the
editor desire to publish any of the opin-
ions received the consent Of the writer
will first be obtained.
All that Is asked on your part Is your
honest opinion in reply to the follow
ing questions:
1. What is 1t that makes the best
newspaper? That is, what is it that
makes the best paper stand out above
all others?
2. How can the Advocate and News
he made more valuable to you? What
improvements can be added in the way
OF new features, and what is there that
can be advantageously discarded?
8. The Advocate and News desires not
only to appeal to the producers" as
the farmer and wage-earner are some
times called, but 1t wishes earnestly
and vigorously to champion their inter
ests. What suggestions can you make
as to the policy Of the paper along
this line?
4. What do you think Of the size of
the paper, general appearance, pictures,
headings, departments, ETC.?
1t should be borne in mind that the
Advocate and News reaches persons of
widely varying ideas on some subjects,
and that they are scattered all over the
country; that 1t may be impossible for
the paper to incorporate certain meth
DDS into its plan of publication, owing
to local and other conditions, and that
what Is wanted Is your own opinion
of what will make the Advocate and
News better paper than 1t is at present.
This proposition Is good for old sub
seribers as well as for new readers. Any
person who Is already on the list will
receive an extension of his subscrip-
ton for two months upon compliance
with the above request.