The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-16
AN E )IToR's LAMENT.
Complains at the Public's Lack of
Practical Appreciation.

complains at the Public'S Lack of
Practical Appreciation.
From the Pottsville Miners Journal.
There are all sorts of mean people in
the world, the degree OF meanness de-
pending pretty much upon the point OF
view. TO the newspaper mans mind
the meanest man is the fellow who sub
scribes to the out-of- town papers and
then persistently borrows the home
paper. We think that no man can
really be called a good citizen" who
does not subscribe to his town paper,
providing he can afford to do so.
The public appear to be very indif-
ferent as to whether the local news
paper should live or die, No matter
what sort of an entertainment is pro-
posed, or for whatever purpose the pro-
ceeds are to be devoted the first idea
that is presented by the promoters is
that this mean spirit exists to q large
nay, uniVersal-degree among tha
churches and the various semi-cha rit-
able enterprises which are a constant
feature of the local life Of a small COM
munity These people are, or ought to
be, good and charitable; yet their first
idea appears to be how much they can
divert from the treasury of the news
paper. 1t is a fact that we know of in
stances where free advertising had
been demanded fo- questionable char
liable schemes, ard We have at the
same time been invited to buy tickets
for our reporters to go to the same for
the sole purpose Of putting up this or
that self-consciCus character in the
entertainment. The question never
presents itself for a moment that we
are not In the slightest degree inter-
ested in many of these affairs. We are
so busy at all times in the effort to
make both ends meet in our business
that we have no desire TO be Identified
with anything that will make our task
a more difficult one.
We affirm that the churches set a
very bad example in this direction
Various entertainments are projected
here many times by churches with
which we have no afiliatiOn, and we
are asked to do advertising free for
the same, when the churches are fully
and entirely able to pay a fair charge
for the work. We should not be eX-
pected to contribute to the work of
every church in the community. In
many cities now the preachers are be-
ing made to realize that they must ex-
poet no free advertising. Church no>
tees of services are paid for at the
regular rates; and this is as it should
be. The church notice Is put In for
no other reason than 10 draw a crowd
/ and incidentally to Increase the amount
in the collection plates, therefore the
service should be considered worth just
what the newspaper charges for it,
| 1t cannot be denied that the published
| notice has value. else II is a fact that
| the preacher would not go TO the
! trouble Of writing it out and sending
It to the office for publication. There is
no reason why 2 small fund should not
be set aside by the various churches
| 10 be used for advertising their Ser,
| vices, Money is spent for other pur-
poses which do not bring in the returns
which judiciously placed notice in-
variably does 1t Is fact that among
the large cities most prosperous
churches are those whose pastors pay
I close attention to getting their an.
nouncements in the papers. These mer
believe i'm publicity and are willing tC
pay for it, because they see the direct
results Sunday after Sunday. There Is
no good reason in our mind why tho
churches should not pay for value re
ceived Just the same as the merchant