The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-10
Wednesday, March 10, 1897.
Quarrelins Printers and Spiteful
Officers.


York seem to be unique set. Foryears they
have been quarreling or fighting each other'
laying their private grievances before the
public, and for which personal grievances
nine-teuths Of the people care not one cent.
York has, perhaps, as many good newSpa-
pers as any county in the Southern States.
But as quarrelers they take the cake. The
same may be said of the politicians or
county officers OF York.
The editor Of the Press and Banner has
lived long time, and for many years he has
been noticing little things. We believe that
a politician does a foolish thing to pick
quarrel with any newspaper, and we further
believe that newspaper ought not to 60 TO
war-unless absolutely necessary.
II the politicians or officers Of York were
wise they would not use their official position
or personal likes or dslikes to the injury OF
any one, and certainly not against newspa
per. The best and truest officer that ever
lived cannot always act 80 wisely that his
enemies may not find fault. Then why
make enemies? Why not do the square
thing by al-by the public and by each news
paper? Pets or favorites are not necessity.
This newspaper believes that the officers OF
York, should refuse to be partial TO any
printer. The low prices at which advertising
can be done should enable the commission
ers, for instance. TO give their advertisements
to both newspapers at York-or, If they can
not give all to both, then divide the adver.
tlsements. The newspapers which are pub
lished outside OF the city Of York, we pre-
sumo, would be satisfied with an occasional
advertisement, or with the advertisements
that were interesting chiefly or solely to the
locality in which these papers are publish
ed.
The plan of publishing advertisements In
only one paper at York Is a mistaken idea.
Important advertisements should 60 in both
papers, and sometimes in the country papers,
too.
The plan OF letting out advertisements to
the lowest bidder is unwise and impolitic.
and may be devise to give important adver-
tisements the least publicity, and is a certain
means of making an enemy OF the newspa-
per that gets left. A good officer prefers 10
deal fairly with the newspapers and justly to
the public, without incurring loss to him.
self.
AS arule the public officers will find 1t to be
the best principle as we'll as the best policy,
TO ignore all preferences for, or prejudices
against, any newspaper. They would find II
more pleasant to rise above personalities. and
the newspapers, instead Of being enemies,
would be their friends.
No public officer ever gained vote by try
ing to give his advertisement the least publi-
city.
No public officer ever found it advantag-
eous TO 60 to war with q newspaper.
Let the public officer regard neither news
paper, except as a medium for reaching the
public, having no reference TO the personality
OF either publisher. Trying to keep the read
ers OF either newspaper ignorant OF the official
notices Is detrimental to the public welfare.
and no public officer discharges his whole
duty to all the people who withholds his i'm.
portant official notices from half the reading
public.
Nobody ever thanked q public official for
saving few dollars by not publishing an ad.
vertisement that ought to have been seen by
every body.
The plan Of letting official advertisements
to the lowest bidder, or giving it to only one
paper, Is not creditable to the good judgment
OF the officer. The plan of assuming TO give
favors on the one hand or presa ming
to withhold official patronage on the
other. is not only unjust, but is impolitic
Why perform thankless act, which will
bring personal enmity. without serving
good purpose?
A public officer, like judge on the bench,
should be fair and know nobody. He should
deal fairly between the public and the indi-
vidual printer-without using his office to re-
ward friends or to punish enemies.
The printers. as we'll as the officers OF York
have put too much feeling into their actions
and doings, and both have done wrong. Let
all get mp on higher planes and cease to air
their personal grievances. An officer uses his
position for base purposes when he seeks to
use his office TO punish anybody-and
printing office makes mistake in manifest
ing Ill will for competitor. Honorable
competition is the life of trade.