The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-12
IS FUNNIEST WHEN
SERIOUS
Who it Was Underesti
mated N. & @. Circu-
Iation in 1895.


The Morning Post is a funny news
paper-not humorous in wit, but funny
when it is most serious 1t gave The
News and Observer whole page advcr-
tisement on Sunday. IF the Post had
any value as an advertising medium The
News and Observer ought to pay for
the advertisement. 1t prints a letter from
the editor of this paper-and \ good
letter it is toto parties whose subscrip-
ton was solicited. Many of them have
already subscribed and the ''Old Reliable"
is climbing up far beyond its 5000.
If the increase continues at the same
rate during the balance of the year as
the first ten days, the year 1904 will
Observer
| The Post thinks it discovers a mares
nest and says The News and Observer is
guilty of the crime of UNDERESTIMATE
ING it's circulation in 1895. The very
scant records in this office covering that
period, which were kept that year by Mr..
w. P. Whitaker, now of the Morning
Post (then employed by The News and
Observer) indicate that the AVERAGE
CIRCULATION that year was 2.4O0 In
January, 1885, while the Fusion Legisla-
ture was in session, the circulation of the
paper was much larger-it may have
reached 4,000-for there was big demand
OF the year, the Democracy of the State
desiring to see what the gang in control
OF the Legislature was doing.
AS to The News and Observers claims
Of circulation in 1895, every statement
OF circulation was furnished by Mr.. w.
P Whitaker who now makes them for
the Post Does anybody believe he UN-
DERESTIMATED the circulation? If the
Posts mares nest reflects upon anybody
the reflection is upon the present bust
ness manager of the Morning Post aud
not upon the editor of this paper or
any man now connected with it's man
agement.
As to whether Mr.. Whitaker when en-
ployed by The News and Observer furn
ished correct circulation statements to
the editor, who was in Washington City,
until January, 1895 and could not have
known except through Mr.. Whitaker, how
many papers were printed, I have NO
means of knowing.
This / do know: That the average cir
culaton of The News and Observer fer
the year 1903 was S,2O1 copies and that
more new subscribers wholly unsolicited,
have been put on the subscription books
since my connection with the paper. This
does not include any sample copies or
any names to whom papers have been
sent temporarily in the desire to induce
them to become regular subscribers.
The advertisers and the public care
for present circulation. They are not ia
somebody UNDERESTIMATEDh how many
News and Observers were printed in
1895. They wish to know how many
people read the paper NOW. Upon that
question l can speak with full knowledge
for now and for more than year past,
accurate daily records are kept. These
records arc in accordance with the re-
quirements for the highest class rating
in The American Newspaper Directory
The letter Of the editor OF The News
and Observer soliciting the subscription
of selected list of prominent citizens
in certain cities has borne excellent
fruits and already a good percentage have
given authority to enter their subscrip
tions. This is a legitimate method OF
soliciting business and is quite diffcrenr
from the perpetual tagging at any and
everybody to accept The Morning Fost
gratis.
Everybody knows the interests which
the Post represents. Everybody knows
too, that The News and Observer has
not a dollar OF income except shat de-
rived from its more than 8 coo subscribers
ard it's advertisers.
In the absence of the editor from the
city--he is in Washington, D. c., on bust
ness-I have thought it proper to make
the above statement with reference 10
the full page advertisement given Ire
News and Observer without charge.
w. H. BAGLEY,
Business Manager News and Observer
THE PEOPLE WITH YOU.