The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-06-03
Matson's Big store.
Right of country newspapers.

Liz IOIG DUuRo MeostuSeI says ~ 10 d
pleasure to see how many Of the smaller
newspapers of Iowa are sturdily declin-
ing to take the Chicago department. store
advertising at any price. The tempt
alton to accept a gilt-edged offer to run
Is very strong because profits are not so
large for any Iowa publisher as to per-
nit remunerative contracts to be disre-
garded without reluctance. But the
country press of Iowa is Loyalty support
ing Iowa institutions and showing by
practice that the preaching for home In:
dustries is not an idle, meaningless doc
trine to them. Waterloo Courier.
That is all right if it's reciprocal.
Country newspapers primarily favor
their own town in order to favor them
selves. The country newspapers are
among the best citizens--perhaps there
are nom so patriotic. They are sort Of
charged with the interests Of their towns
and the responsibility Of setting a good
example presses upon them constantly.
But it is not the duty of country news.
papers to occupy themselves exclusively
in holding the bag. If they understand
themselves properly they are out after
some of the game themselves. They are
willing to 60 halves and even better than
that, but if they are intelligent and not
unmindful of themselves and families
they will insist on being in it on some
basis. In a good many country towns
there Is slight resistance to the opinion
that the newspaper is a carryall and that
anything like a complaint from IL Is
shocking, and anything like a kick dis
loyal to the interests of the town. The
newspaper, if it is good for anything,
does a heap Of advertising for every mer-
chant and business man in the place for
which it receives and expects no pay. If
the people who live there by doing some
sort Of business do not feel that 1t pays
them to advertise in their own news
paper, beyond what the newspaper Is
induced to donate for the good of the
town, they have no right t o protest if the
newspaper shall sell its space to outside
customers who have a better appreciation
Of the cash value of its columns. Would
a lawyer or a doctor Of the town refuse
outside business? Does the banker ad.
here to the rule that he will only trade
with his home people? The newspaper
if it is what it ought to be, is business
enterprise, and it is to take care Of itself
in this selfish world a we'll as it has the
wit to do. People prefer to trade al
home If they can get what they wan,
and get it at a fair figure; and home
merchants have IN advantage to star
with as against others. But it is not thu
business Of the newspapers to be a con
spirator to smother legitimate compe
%tition. 1t cannot succeed at it if it un
dertakes it. Or course there are propri
cites. The demand for the exercise o
horse ems is constant. But it is sount
policy for every man to run his own bus
iDess and leave other men to take care o
theirs. Country newspapers proceed to-
much on the theory that they do not be
long to themselves. They are afraid tn,
money bags Of the town will turn up hi
nose and throw them overheard. The.
have q right to accept legitimate bust
ness from whatever source, and 1t is tn
business of all people to defend them
selves against the competition Of legiti
mate business. This is not working
against the town; in fact it may result
in roofing out more old fossils and max
: ing the town alive ard the more abun
dainty able to care for itself.-5iou:
= City Journal.