The record-union., 1899-09-08

state. MOSJ Oh us are lleu HdIlu anu
foot, metaphorically speaking, by con-
tracts the conditions of which we are
not proud to quote. We have said
and are saying we don't like it, Then
| let us assert ourselves, demand a new
deal, and get better rates for the for
eign advertising we do, or do no more
of it. What should that better rate
be?" do you ask. Near enough the rate
you charge the local advertiser to make
the foreign advertiser understand that
| for him you are not running sure
enough gift enterpr se
In the discussion here to-day, l hope
to see these questions answered:
| d. The practicability of establishing
and faithfully adhering to net rate for
! foreign as with local advertisers.
/ Cd The agent = whom does he serve?
= by whom should he be paid, the pub
Usher or the advertiser, or by both?
| (3) Is it right, is it justice to local
patrons, to give the very best positions
| in the paper to the foreign advertisers!
| Mcpherson moved a vote of thanks
to Mr.. Francis for his able presenta-
tion of the subject, and that his paper
/ be ordered printed as part of the pro-
ceedings.
| The convention indorsed fully the
sentiments of Mr.. Francis and thanked
him for his paper.
THE PAPER DISCUSSED.
J. F. Thompson of the Eureka
STANDARD" said he had rarely heard
paper read that so fully accorded with
his views but it was a long paper and
divided into several parts and could be
better discussed if printed. 1t met
with his hearty approval, and if the
editors present would take hold of it IN
the spirit in which it should be taken
hold of it would put some red blood
into the business and some money in
their pockets.
F. B. Mackinder of the st. Helena
Star said other business could be
transacted to-day and to-morrow's ses-
sion be devoted to it's discussion, when
they could better discuss it.
A motion to elect officers was made,
but an amendment to wait till to-mor-
row (Friday) in order to give others a
chance to vote, prevailed.
Chairman Barcar thought it was not
wise to wait for fellows that were not
here and shape the policy by their
ideas They should learn that when
the call says Thursday it means
| Thursday When the association has
received such a cordial invitation as
this one has from the people of Sacra-
mento, the members should be on hand
| to show their appreciation of it. 1t
| showed not only a lack of recognition
of responsibility, but lack of appre-
citation as guests of the courtesies
rendered to them. He had no patience
with such delay.
Mr.. Francis said that at the meeting
of the Executive Committee it was un-
derstood that the association would
discuss the paper to-day and elect Off
GERS on Friday.
TOO MANY AGENTS.
Mr.. Mcpherson said that, for one
thing, the multiplicity of agents should
be discussed The editors were having
their throats cut by them. There is a
California paper agency in New York.
and the papers here appointed an
agent there on condition that he would
not underbid existing advertising. The
first thing he did was to do so. There
are two firms in San Francisco also
who solicit advertising. For himself,
! he had concluded to have only one
agent in San Francisco and New York.
The members are allowing the agents
TO fight at the editors expense, and
each agent is asking for more privi-
leges than the others.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
e B. Willis said he had participated
in the meetings of the association
from the beginning and the efforts
made toward the end aimed at. He
was satisfied that every one agreed
with Mr. Francis. They all knew they
were being robbed, and wished to avoid
| it, The best plan, he thought, was to
appoint a committee to organize within
the association to gather information
and give it to the members; to agree
that each paper should establish it's
rates and stand by them. Let each
sign an agreement to do so. This would
do far more than to resolute annually
| against the abuses.
HOW IT IS DONE.
T. G. Daniels of the Alameda
Argus said it would be better to dis
cuss the matter after the paper was
! printed. 1t was no use to roast the
agents They will do what they are
permitted to do by the newspaper men.
| He would instance one particular ad-
vertisement by a firm, the largest adj
vertisers in the papers, an advertise
ment that nearly all the papers have,
| and most of them have it at the top of
| the column, often of the editorial coll
umn. He had steadily refused to put
it there and they finally came to
terms. His paper could not be arbi-
trary, any more than others. The firm
was satisfied it would get the position
it wanted, because it is the disposition
| of the California editor to do what they
consider a good thing and to rush into
| a thing without consideration The
agents have gone into a trust and are
scaling down prices every year and
| asking for better places for advertise
ments. He had been promised in
| creased business by acceding to an
agents terms, but found the increased
business consisted simply in substi-
tuting other things to take UP the
space he had already contracted for
| and other eXactions followed. They
are made simply on account of the sub
serviency of the press.
1t is of no use to roast the agents
The papers have the matter in their
own hands and thirty or forty papers
in the country can remedy it if they
will. The agents say they don't care
for the country papers, but he noticed
that the big firm referred to adver-
tises very little in the city papers All
that is needed is a little backbone in