The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-26
BOYCOTTING A BOOK
REPUBLICAN MONOPOLY AFRAID
OF THE JEFFERSoNIAN
News Combines Refuse to Handle It
Upon Anything Like Fair Basis.
Letters From Publishers

As Is well known, most of the monOpolies
existing in the United States are, directly
or indirectly, under the control of the
leaders of the Republican party. One of
the greatest monopolies of the present day
is that of the so-called news companies,
which seeks to make or mar a book or pub
LEGATION by giving 1t a wide circulation
through its various agencies, or kill
ing it by refusing to handle the same.
telling the public that the publication is
mot obtainable.''
That these news companies are dahb,ing
in politics is evident from the following
letter, which deserves careful considera-
ton.
The letter is from the Jeffersonian DEM
ocratic Publishing company, concern that
has done and is doing much for the cause
it advocates. The correspondence is self
explanatory, being addressed to a we'll
known citizen of Los Angeles, and is as
follows:
WASHINGTON, d. c., May ~, 1898.
Abbot Kinney, ESQ.,, Los Angeles. CAL
Dear Sir: We are very much inconven-
fenced by the news companies which ham
die magazines, and which have way of
killing any book that does not come up to
their idea, and with which they cannot
make terms just as they desire. That you
may fully understand how hard it Is to get
any book or magazine placed on sale with
local news agents and within reach of the
people, more especially book that advo-
Gates the reforms set forth in the Chicago
platform, will give you their system of
doing business, and perhaps you may have
n IN
friends to induce them to insist upon all
local news dealers keeping the magazine
for sale. The Central News company goes
under different names, according to loca-
ton. In one case 1t will be the American
News company; in another the Union News
company, and so on. but all the time 1t Is
the Central News company. The postofice
department made the ruling granting this
news company the right to return all un-
sold books, papers. magazines, ETC., for
the same rate that publishers pay on send
ing them out Il cent per pound. This news
company has charge of or contracts of
some kind with all of the local news agents
throughout the United States. and will not
send out the Jeffersonian Democrat maya
zine unless we deliver it to the
company in bulk at 3h cents per
copy. we to pay the cost of postage,
l cent per pound, to all customers
to whom the company desires to send it.
and further payment Of ~ cents per
pound for all unsold copies, virtually max
ing 1t impossible for US to issue the mag
azine, inasmuch as 1t costs more than the
company offers to get 1t out of the hands
Of the printer, without taking into consid-
GRAFTON any Of the other expenses connect
ed with it. The Central News company
goes step further than this and desires to
prevent the magazine from being sent out
for campaign purposes unless 1t goes
through the company's agencies and is de.
Mvered to the voters in that way, paying
the same rate as quoted above.
| I write you that you may know wha'
difficulties we labor under to have the mag
azine placed upon the news stands through
out the country. and request that you
make these facts known to our Democratic
friends in your locality. Yours truly,
j. W. HAYES, Manager.
Jeffersonian Democrat Publishing Co.