Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1901-04-12
of this virgin soil at the earliest
possible date.
PUBLISHERS,

President Kent, Of the North
Dakota Press association, has sent
letters to the publishers Of the
state inviting an expression on the
subject of organizing a publishers
association for the purpose Of 9
curing better rates from foreign
advertisers. The scheme is a
good one and if such an organiza-
ton is effected in this state It will
be the means Of largely increasing
the yearly revenues Of every men,
Der from his advertising space.
Minnesota has a similar organi-
zation which has grown beyond the
experimental stage and is now a
pronounced success. Six years
ago, Ed. A. Paradis, editor of the
Midway News, published at Mer-
Ram Park, st. Paul, conceived the
idea OF organizing the publishers
OF the country weeklies of Mime
sofa into a business association.
He went to work in a practical
manner to bring about this result,
but before he got the organization
on a satisfactory basis he was
nearly ruined financially. The
writer was associated with Mr.
Paradis for three years and is
familiar with the many obstacles
that had to be overcome before the
organization could be made of mu-
tual benefit to the advertisers and
members. After a year of prelim-
mary work an expert advertising
man Of Chicago was employed to
take charge Of the associations
business, or rather prospective
business. He made several thou
sand dollars worth Of contracts
with eastern advertisers and divid-
ed up the business equally among
the members of the association.
With the carelessness usually
displayed by the average country
publisher, a large number Of them
failed to run the advertising &C
cording to instructions, and many
more ignored the request to mail
a copy of the paper to the manager
for checking purposes, and the
result was that no collections could
be made from the advertisers.
Dissatisfaction was pronounced
among the publishers and Presi-
dent Paradis was roundly abused.
He silenced every criticism, how
ever, and stood loyalty by the prop
o%sition Of practical business
organization among country pub
fishers. Geo. N. Lamphere, form
erly Of the Moorhead News, was
elected general manager, and with
the assistance Of Mr.. Paradis, the
association was finally made a
success. Last year over $4,000
was distributed among the men,
bers of the association in Mime
sofa, and the prospects for the
future we're never brighter. The
association in our sister state is of
such a scope that North Dakota
can be taken into the organization
and receive the same benefits as
do the Minnesota publishers with
out the expense of employing a
special advertising manager. One
manager a do the work for both
states.
The members Of the Northwest
ern Publishers association should
feel under lasting obligations to
Ed. A. Paradis for that BENEFICIAL
organization. It has money in the
treasury, pays bills promptly when
earned, is strong with the general
advertisers throughout the country
and counts as members all the
leading weekly papers of Minne-
sofa. To the writer's personal
knowledge Mr.. Paradis spent over
$1,000 Of his own money in per-
fecting this organization, and now
that the association is prospering
the members should show their
appreciation of the valuable SER
vices rendered by their efficient
president to the extent of, at least,
paying back to him the money he
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