Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-08-24
Corrupting the Press.

have come out for Page have been il
= effect bought by him. They intimat,
that by the distribution of advertising
and the purchase of extra copies con
tanning notices favorable to his candi
+ dacy. Page has placed the press of Yer
mont under obligations to him anC
that he only has to pull the string tC
make them say what he pleases. 1t i:
averred that because of this, the oener
al expression Of the press is not a fail
Indicator of public sentiment.
Now, while it is considered that
everything is fair in politics that is
fair in love or war, this is charge so
serious as to deserve notice. If it is
true, then the people OF Vermont should
rise in their might and denounce the
press that has sold itself in such con
temptible service. People who take
papers and who read that the editor
believes thus and so have right to ex-
pect that he does believe so and is not
paid for saying things in favor or
against anybody. If the press is pur-
chasable, it should be generally known,
so that its influence can be placed
where it deserves to beat zero. If,
on the other hand, the charge of cor
ruption is false, the papers accused
cannot too quickly or actively resent it.
What are the facts? 1t is not de-
MED that Gov. Page has at times
bought advertising space in the papers
of Vermont This he has employed in
the exploitation of his own lines OF
business, openly and legitimately. In
buying this space, he has always driv-
en- the sharpest trade he could with the
publisher, as was his undeniable priv
ilege, without any reference to future
tavors that he might expect OF them. |
So cheap has this advertising been ac- |
cepted by some of the papers that we
are certain not one publisher in Yer
mont feels under the slightest extra
obligation to Mr.. Page because of the
small patronage. Mr.. Page has got
good value in advertising for every
dollar so expended and he asks no
more.
As to the support he has secured
by the purchase ofextra copies for dis
tribution, the public is at liberty to es-
innate how much of it is sincere and
how much is superinduced by the few
dollars paid for such copies. The pub
lie is always apt to be over suspi-
;ious, and some papers are doing all
hey can to foster distrust of their own :
but the fact remains that in
10 degree worth considering Is the press !
If Vermont purchasable Ii it were.
I any editor were so lost TO the sense !
u honor rs to be willing to sell him
elf, does anyone suppose he could not ,
rive better bargain than the mere /
'ittance he receives for few hundred a
opies of his paper, sold at regular y
ates and mailed at his own expense2 ]
here are papers in Vermont whose
ssistance in any campaign is worth 1
and thousands Of dollars. If q
hey were venal, does anyone suppose "
little advertising or few papers or
cred would buy them2 Vermont
ditors though some may regard them /,
5 knaves, are not fools. Would they sell e
ell Tor cents what would bring dol {
lrs Away with such ridiculous !
barge! /
There are some who look askance nj =
he purchase of extra copies for politi- q
al circulation. They suspect that the ;
IMPRESSIONS OF such papers are infu- \
need in some degree, at least, by the Ia
lze Of the order. They think that I
'hile an editor might honestly favor ,
he candidate, he would not say quite v
o much or make it quite so strong i'll 5
were not for the papers he sells in v
Consequence. This very suspicion v
hitch is widespread as a check !,
excess in this direction, if there /,
ere any tendency. The editor knows n
lat anything ne may say will be taken W
18th some grain Of allowance by those :
'ho receive special copies So keen
his knowledge of this that he often
oes not go to the limit ofhis own hon
t belief lest he be accused Of PLAYING
ne spokesman. When a voter receives
marked copy Of apaper containing a
office favorable to a candidate. he
nows at once who pays for the copy
nd we have sometimes questioned the c
olicy on the part of candidates of car
ing on their canvass in this way. be-
luse men are prone to suspect that {
publishers are corruptible However.