The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-10-15

fact that he owes his last years printers
hire, and his job stock is shipped to him
In Two Bit lots C. o. d.
The business end OF Il newspaper, in its
foundation. to he solid. must contain the
following essentials:
]. Character
=. Integrity.
3. Independence.
I. Reliability.
s. Promptness.
D. Strict business rules.
/. Firmness.
8. Sound business principles
Without these no newspaper can thrive.
The business manager must have character
and
i. Pay his Just obligations promptly.
.. His integrity must be unquestion-
able.
3. He must be independent and free to
say no when it is necessary.
4. He must have his rules of business
and adhere to them and insist on their
enforcement.
5. He must see that all promises and
obligations of his department. are met
without delay. No man win do business
long with an unreliable concern.
6. He must see that there is prompt ,obe-
dienee by those under him.
Z. He must be firm in his decisions
bearing on his office work and the finances
vertising, etc. Every man despises a
twishee- washee" man in business trans
actions.
s. He must be u man Of brains and pos
sess sound business judgment He must
be able TO sift the chaff from the wheat
in his trade territory and he should be
competent to compute. at any time, the
exact financial status of his office.
Every business manager, of course, has
his own peculiar ideas of the proper man
agement OF newspaper finances--and that
is proper. There is nothing like original
ity. l have found it so ~ my own office
Years ago. like too many others of my
brothers of the craft. | fell into the
easy going style of letting the business
department work out its own salvation;
but ! soon found the error of my way.
/ learned that IL did not pay to let your
bills run from January TO January aud
then have an annual settlement with the
big advertisers; ! earrUAI that it was poor
business management 10 send the paper
year in and year out to John Smith or
Jim Jones whether they paid for it or not
learned the whole secret in a nutshell
say no.
adopted the monthly collection for city
patrons and found 1t the only correct rule
OF business, where an actual spot cash
business can not be maintained. But ii is
in the subscription department that was
put on my WITS. How to manage that,
was the question. l struck the keynote.
On the LIST OF July, August or September of
each year, | send every subscriber a very
polite little circular asking him to cali
and see me; that ] am not dunning him.
but, being in tight and in need of funds.
would greatly appreciate 1t il he could
could find 1t convenient TO part with a few
cents of his wealth 10 help things along.
The plan works admirably, The men come
in and pay up with enthusiasm and go
away rejoicing. On the first of each jan
uary Gull out all those who have not
paid for two years and send them to a coll
iecting agency. The result is highly sat-
isfactory. / carry no deadheads on my
subscription list and contrary to the old
and oft-exploded theory, ! make my sub
scription list pay
do business on stricay business prin-
ciples and try to compel those working
with me to do likewise. have long since
educated my patrons up TO the fact that a
newspaper Is not charitable institution,
but as much OF business affair as the
bank or the big mercantile souse. Do that
and YOU have no complaint TO make OF lack
of business. Avoid the man who is "go-
ing to give you an 'ad TO help you along"
Tell hira you don't need his business He
will soon come back and ask your price
ON good sized card. Buy your paper
where you can get the best prices: pay
cash as nearly as possible and In ali
things be as independent as a bondholder.
Adopt banking methods as much aslpos-
sIble in handling the Office finances and,
above all. be sure TO Keep correct
finance ledger. Know your receipts
and expenses every day even II they do not
exceed 40 cents
Couple these principles with able edito-
rial management and you viii prosper and
your journal Will become -afiuential
~
W. l.. Johnson of the Yoaknm Times
was elected secretary OF the association.
to succeed W. A. MAR. resigned on ac-
count OF his retiring from the newspaper
business.
Mr.. Mair was made an honorary member
and officially thanked BY the association
for his services as secretary
In response he referred TO the deep feel