The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-03
TEXAS PRESS AND PROHIBITION
To the Editor Of The Post

To the Editor of The Post
Dallas Texas, July 3oA letter has tust been placed in
my hands which vitality the people OF Texas and
demands oupoken expression the part of every paper
in the State
AS to the merits of prohibition / shall argue in this
article The question is Can respectable number Of
Texas papers be induced advocate prohibition edo-
rally or to demand pay for its discussion by those ia
vorng prohibition simply because the liquor and beer in
terests for space setting forth their side have such
low opinion OF Texas papers Ever since the appearance of
that article, paid (as indicated by the type
used and the headnes in The Post other large
dalies of Texas June have had TO defend the Texas
press against charges that they would permit discussion
OF the questions forth unless each article combating the
assertions IN the paid matter likewise paid for. have
vehementy denied this monsrou charge which has gained
such current belief have already appeared suggested
probability in largely circulated religious papers
To get the whole before the people of Texas, and
give the press an opportunity to express itself believe it
Will give the letter which makes the proposition to Texas
papers The adroitness will be by carefully noting the
emphatic expressions and the implication that the public
to be forced into paying for full discussion Of great
moral and political question because the allied interests
which make OF the traffic involved combine pay
for setting forth their side The letter below was handed
me by Mr. j. l. Ladd proprietor of the Matagorda County
nay Cy( tribune to whom 1t was addressed have it in
my possession 1t is typewriter and signed by the writer
with his signature in ink and is genuine The heading
orth mat Ads in Job oseash with copy his business
ayd his office is 38 Bliss building. and is dated
washington d G., July 49, I9o2.-Dear Sir: l have a
special line of advertising which can place in limited
number of Texas during the few months and
would like proposition from you for from 1000 to TO- 600
lines In special cases might place than the higher
The matter offered consists of arguments statistics and
wre-ups showing the failure of prohibition in Texas and
other States The matter will be similar that appearing
IN the Dallas News and other larger Texas papers Of Tune
90 his Is good ad for The POST The Dallas News
and other larger Texas papers y The matter offered must
be run as regular reading matter without advertising marks
OF any kind "
VIII you kindly give offer of space as news matter
ana also state what would charge run some OF tbe
matter as editorial The interests which are Offering This
matter through my agency inclined to be liberal
eay to papers that fit oppose prohibition in TEXAS
and favor high license. " ~
While the matter to be published will run along for sew
era months yet is imperative that the contracts ar ar
rangements. be made at Your immediate rcnv l.
therefore desired If wish allotment of the business
II VIII be strictly cash Transaction my check will On viii
copy in every case r r ro, 49, ~ " '''
mat ne Posts editorial columns not for sale any
Knows VINO cares to know that does not even lend
10 inc deception OF putting in paid ads as regular reading
matter without advertising marks OF any kind is n1a ne
cause me big ad referred to the letter that appeared
9 had the headlines and type used only for paid matter P
N Johnson evidently believes he will find the weekly or
smaller papers of Texas scrupulous as to tber 80, 4
name. VIM he be able TO substitute them in the nanner
panty minated do not believe it. But it furnishes
me occasion TOR the Texas press dabuse the nubI -
aea o. ignorance concerning the honor OF Journalist
trust this article and letter will have wide nvbli;t ~
VIM A. BowrN