West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-06-10

p""VI OF the lI0u, they NAV rea.
sonably expect u lack OF sympathy
there for the interests and welfare
of newspapers The failure Of tn,
Legislature Of 1898 to appropriate
any SUM OF money to pay for the
publication of the report of the cx.
animation Of the State banks. was
due solely to the unyielding oppo-
sltlon OF the chairman of the House
committee ON taxation and tiuanco.
10 Justify the open reputation OF
debt contracted by tho State of.
hcials IN pursuance of plain pro
vision OF law, he declared that the
publication was entirely worthless
and should not be paid for. tire.
qulres no trausceudant genus to
realize at glance, that the ONLY
possible good that can result from
the examination Of the banks. is to
inform the public of chcjr financial
condition; and yet this penny wise
statesman was seeking to cutoff the
shEIo merit the system possesses.
The more seaside idea OF abolish
ing tho Office Of Bank Examiner. or
OF failing to appropriate money to
pay his salary, had not found a re.
ceptacle IN the scope of his gigantic
intellect. His idea OF the best
method OF annihilating the monster
was by clipping Oft its tail Instead
Of bruising its head.
The exper icnco OF newspaper
men with legislative bodies teaches
'hom that there is strong aver.
sion to providing for the payment
OF publications in newspapers out
Of the public funds. There is n
very low estimate placed by the
populaco on the influence for good
exerted by the press upon the
moral growth and educational ad-
vnncement of the people, and the
material progress and devolopement
Of the country. Printing Offices
arc regarded as institutions de.
pendent upon public charity and
private generosity, and editors are
looked upon as morlals created
considerably below the angels, and
little higher than the common
mendicant or the strolling street
faItir. The active, wide awake ed
ltor who devotcs all his time and
applies his best faculties and un-
tirng energies to the elevation of
humanity, the bettermcnt of So
cIety and the devclopemcnt of bis
country, is constantly humiiated
by the cruel reminder that the $50
which is luyished upon him once
every twelve months for publishing
the financial statement of bis
county, is u gratui'y bestowed up
ON him by a magnanimous public
30 keep the paper from suspending
or the editor out OF the almshouse.
The editors need not hope for
any legislation in tho future di-
rectly in their interest. Eternal
vigilance and united action on their
part is required to enable them to
hold to that which they already
have. The only way to secure ad.
dltional patronage by legislation is
to be on the alert and provide in
cidently for publications IN meas.
ures seeking other purposes. with
a few active representatives in the
legislature, reinforced by a discreet
and intelligent lobby, some good
can from time to- time be accom-
pIshed for tho newspapers. TOO
little attention has been gwen 90
this matter in the past. This As
sociatiou can accomplish no greater
results for The fraternity than by
taking this matter up and giving
II the Undivided support OF the
The Editorial A $50
citation can exort a most potent in.
huence il there should be unity
OF purpose aud a concort Of action
all along the line.
Tho greatest impcdimcnt to tho
Advancement Of newspaper inter
ostsin this state, is the lack Of
cordial cooperation among news
paper men. They cannot expect
outsiders TO respect their claims so
long as they fail TO present claims
on which they are agreed and do
not work harmoniously 10 advance
and promote. Canlor iu the news
paper business Is just as essential
as in any other business. Strong
prejudice against Che legal rate or