The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-03-16
PRESSAND THR SALOON
What Wisconsin Editors Say of
the Relations Between Them.
NEWSPAPERS DO THEIR SHARE.

Editors Not Called on to Antagonize Any
body, So Some Think-Others Hold That
Fear of Loss of Business Makes Press
Timid-Experience in Printing w. c. 7.
U. CoIumns--An Interesting Sympo-
SUM.
Madison, Wis, March 13.-Some
time ago / was asked to speak on the
attitude Of the Wisconsin Press to-
ward the temperance movement. |
wrote to thirty-fye editors asking
them for short statement of their
views. AnOnymOusnesS was promised
them if they wished it. Only nine an
sWered, and they were willing to
stand out in the open. This i'll itself
was significant. Most Of the replies
were III that frank, manly tone that
characteriZes good newspaper man
when he is up against confessed en-
barrasSment. Extracts show how the
minds of some of our best editors Of
dailieS and Weeklies think on the sa-
loon question.
What Richards of Lodi Thinks.
'Uncle Peter" Richards of Lodi,
whom the whole craft loves and re-
spects, writes:
Many years ago the w. c.. 7. y.
asked for a column in my paper and
l gave it to them for many years-un-
til they tired Of conducting it. When
/ told them they must cOnfine their
labor to temperance and not third par
typOlitics they did not like it, but | held
them to it, and after some years they
tired of it and the column was dropped.
That the column was ever of benefit
to me financially / do not know. |
probably gained a few subscribers, but
[ think [ lost Il good many more. The
attitude Of the press today and the
press in the past years differs but lit
tie, but that little, | fear, is on the
wrong side"
Can't Stand Prohibition; Hence Caution.
The brilliant Kirby Thomas of the
Superior Telegram reasons more as
most Of the craft do:
In the first place the saloon is close
ly allied to politics in all cities and
newspaper is apt to- be influenced in
its relations to the saloons by the in
tluence OF it's political affiliates. This
applies particularly to the question Of
strictly enforcing the laws against
gambling, Sunday opening and other
saloon inhibitiOns. If the paper is
with the administration it is apt to toll
crate this for policy reasons. If it is
fighting the administration, it is apt
to discover. these violations of good
law and morals and to have a Spasm
of reform. Newspapers are also in
fiuenced by the wishes Of their adver
Using patrons quite largely, and fire.
Quently in cities the advertisers do not
wish to have the saloons harasSed by
criticism or strict enforcement of the
laws Every newspaper should be in
favor of temperance and promote it by
all means of argument and publicity,
but some people think that temperance
means prohibition, and consequently in
cities where there are apparent bust
ness reasons against adopting prohibit
ton, the newspapers are chary about
saying much about temperance. The
Evening Telegram has always given
space to a department from the w. G..
II. T. and has published in full all the
temperance lectures. The temperance
cause is given as much publicity as it
calls for from news standpoint and
often more.
''As 4 general answer to your several
suggestions | would say that the mod
ern newspaper has to be conducted on
Horace Greeley's lines if it would stay
on earth, namely, Give the people all
you can of what they want and all
they will stand of what they ought to
have | think that the press today is
quite free from direct influence in ia
vOr Of the saloon and more so than it
has been in the past"
Business Office as an Element.
w. II. Bennett the Mineral Point
veteran, and regarded as Mr. LaFOl-
lctte's press representative, is sa-
raciOus man in ali his conclusions.
He touches on an aspect to which
newspapers are peculiarly sensitive:
"A common error of temperance adj
vocates and agitatOrs is to regard the
press as n purely eleemOsynary insti-
tuition. They do not class the news
paper with the merchant professional
man and manufacturer who depends
up0n the favor of customers for sue
cess. and fail to realize that the news
paper, as any other business enter
prise. cannot exist if managed wholly
for the qualification of those who con-
tribute nothing to its support, and so
as to forfeit the legitimate patronage
of those who want what the publisher
has to sell and are willing to pay for
what they get. l have known temper
ance enthusiasts to condemn a neWSpa
per for selling advertising space to liq-
uor dealers. and even saying that the
money received therefor was the price
of crime and communicating. Yet they
saw no wrong in money going from
the LIQUOR dealers hands direct OF
through his wife or children to the
Christian grocer. clothing dealer OF
miIliner for articles needed, or even
into the church contribution box.
Newspapers Have Done Much.
THE American saloon Of today Oc-
cupies doubtful place among bust
ness enterprises largely through the
unfriendly influence of the press to
ward it, and this service has been uni
fOrmly rendered without hope Of pc
cuniary reward and often at direct
financial sacrifice
An Editor Who Refuses Liquor Ads.
]. NJ. Williams, the political leader
of Belleville, Dane county. is a wal
veteran and has made his little paper
distinctive by writing as he shot