The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-11-10
TIME TO CALL A HALT.
The Newspapers Should Resent the
imposition Practiced Upon Them by
the Politicians and Professional
Office Seekers.

Raleigh Times.
The newspapers of the South are
gradually awakening to the impo-
sition that has been practised upon
them for so many weary years by the
politicians and professional Office
seekers.
The burden which they have borne
because of it. here in North Carolina,
if footed up at the end Of a campaign |
at regular advertising rates, would |
appear almost incredible.
The politicians do not presume to
ask like ''favors' OF people engaged |
in any other business, but have come |
to the point where they take it for
granted that a newspaper must print |
column after column of purely adver-
tising matter, proper, free-and
many OF them no longer ask it as Il
flavor" and do not even say ''thank
You" in return.
| They do not even stop there-sOme
of them For they are not only un-
appreciative, but in many cases posi-
! lively ungrateful.
/ Their ingratitude, and worse, is
not infrequently manifested by an
abuse OF newspapers.
Esq ecially has this disposition
been manifested in our General AS
sembly, when .. little crossroads
politician who has secured an elec
ton to the Legislature through the
aid OF his county newspaper. arises
in the House and brays his ''indigna-
ton to the Speaker and the lobbies
because some newspaper has told the
truth about him.
1t is observed, however, that the
light is breaking-in the east, OF
cOurse-for New York and other
newspapers and magazines are this
year exacting pay of the political
managers for this character OF adver-
tising.
The Knoxville Sentinel says:
"A recent issue of the Saturday Even
| ing Post contains a full page advertise
which marks new step in the progress
of the advertising idea in this country.
/! 1t is page taken by the national Repub-
lican campaign committee and is devoted
to Roosevelt The Post is a weekly
. publication of wide circulation and the
advertising in it's columns is the most
expensive in the country. No doubt the
appearance OF this advertisement is a
y signal for the beginning of extensive
paid publicity on the part of the Repub-
l.. lican national committee. -Four or eight
years ago such purchase of space for po-
litical advertisements was unheard OF.
Since that time the New York papers
have printed more and more political
advertising during their municipal and
, State campaigns. The speeches OF a
Democratic candidate, for instance
would be inserted as an advertisement
in Republican paper. This has become
a feature of the campaigns, and mas
much as advertising has come to be used
:. for nearly every purpose, the natura
result has been the advertising OF a ma
tional Presidential candidate. In oul
, opinion the Republican national commit
tee has shown excellent Judgment. Ih'
Democratic committee should not fail t(
enter on similar campaign"
Recognizing that this is the propel
course to pursue, the Nashville Amer
G. jcaD comments on the above eXtrac
- as follows:
l There is no valid reason why nation
al and State committees should not ad
vertise their candidates and their speak
VI ers. These committees have no right t
expect the newspapers to give over thel
i columns to them. Newspapers cOntrif
. ute their share toward the success {
their party candidates, They often G
3 to great expense to further the interest
, of. their party, at the same time tn
LIST party managers are spending money
i, WAYS that never benefit the candidate
sc the party. In Tennessee, for example
10 ~ the respective party managers seem t
IL. .is think the newspapers should give thel
BY space for their announcements tree
&. charge, yet they never hesitate to pa
: for printing hand-bills, hiring bra
bands, etc, in the interest OF their cano
dates and speakers.
n Whereupon the Atlanta JOurn'
adds this truthful criticism:
"In the South our campaign commi
ii fees 90 to work and raise campale
i fund. They spend this fund on stun
n sneakers and in writing letters malnl
For the same amount OF money they c;
reach double the number OF vote
through the newspapers. But yo
Southern politician argues that t
newspapers will exploit the party non
nees anyhow; that it is useless to spe
IS money on them. They not only refu
F to paw the newspapers any tnlnS !or u
service, but very often they solicit ca
pairn contributions from them as we
In time this will be changed in the Sou1
Il as it is now changing in the East.
The Journal is correct and t
change is coming more speedily tn
the language OF that paper sugges
The politicians will soon find
necessary, in the South as in
East, to exploit their own pla
and pay for the newspaper advert
inc that is indispensable.
The newspapers that give aw
their advertising space cannot IL
much less grow to the psoportit
demanded nowadays to keep upw
ii the procession. For, as the Ashley
News-Gazette says, "the indetir
understanding OF support, uE
which the average ccllared pa
organ depends is often not very
ING. Political publicity throt
newspapers is a commodity-v
like soap publicity or dry goods p
licity."