The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-06

/ constitute the highest paid labor III the
/ city of Topeka. many of the carriers
receiving a dollar or more per hour
for the time they give to the service.
! I have never taken a dollar from any
I carrier for the privilege granted him of
I carrying the paper; I have never sold
| any routes, except believe, in one
| instance where the carrier left US IN
the lurch and we turned over the route
for the amount due on it. This was
many years ago in North Topeka.
The State Journal is now issuing:
I papers of 10 pages, equal 40 pages.
/ issue 10 to Z pages, equal 10 to Il
pages.
issue 16 pages, equal Is pages.
1 issue 20 pages, equal 20 pages
Making a total per week of Sc to IS
pages.
The next largest paper in the city is
issuing:
/ papers of 8 pages, equal As pages.
issue Is to 28 pages, equal 16 to %
pages.
Making a total per week of 81 to rs
pages.
In other words, we are giving to our
readers from u to % pages more per
week than any other paper, which would
be equivalent to about s papers week
/ TO the others z.
I cannot be governed by the action Of
other 2aDers. We must stand on our
own merits and business principles.
am glad to note in your communica-
ton of Oct. 2rd the handsome opinion
you express of the paper wherein you
say:
I'VE carriers believe. and we know
that our customers share our belief, that
the State Journal always has been and
viii continue to be the newsiest, and in
all respects, the leading paper of To-
peka. In fact we feel that there is no
room for comparison of the Journal
with any other Topeka paper"
In my communication of Sept. 30th I
set forth several additional ways in
which / propose in the future to protect
the carriers; namely, by charging the
neWSbOys 2l4 cents for the edition for
Sunday morning. Furthermore, to allow
the carrier the profit on regular sub
scribers in his route when those sub
scribers are absent on a vacation, or
for any other brief period, and stop
the paper going to the regular place in
Topeka.
Furthermore, announced that we do
not intend to take any subscriber for
the Sunday morning paper alone, but
make one price, 10 cents, for the seven
issues to the subscriber and seven
cents for the seven issues to the car
riSTs.
If you should not be disposed to
carry the papers under the same old
rate of one cent per copy, but for seven
issues instead of six, I will be com
/ PEELED, regret 1t on your account as
would, to at once arrange for other
carriers to deliver the paper in the
routes where any carrier for any rea-
son is not willing to pay the addi-
z tiOnal cent for the additional paper.
Under conditions in Topeka it is alb
hsOlutely impossible to get more than
> 10 cents per week for the seven papers.
; In regard to the edition for Sunday
morning, I can take no backward STEP
5 1t is a permanent feature and that
issue VIII be better in the future than
2 it was on the first date
In considering this matter you must
bear in mind that many of the car
riers on the State Journal are making
more than IS week and that the
| mere privilege to carry the paper has
/ been disposed of by carriers from time
to time, subject to our approval. for
$500, or more
You are doubtless aware that al
present one Topeka paper is being de-
livered by carrier for a trifie less than
three cents per week per subscriber
Any carrier who has been delivering
the Journal recently for forty cents
: per month-and we have heard of such
: instances although the rate is forty-five
: cents-received about three cents per
week per subscriber for his work.
/ While we do not like to do it, we
might be compelled by the carriers to
charge an open rate to newsboys of
one cent per copy straight for the seven
issues and let them get subscribers
anywhere they could. That is the way
it is done in some cities, but we do not
wish to do it unless in self-protectiOn-
regretted to learn yesterday after
noon that not only were some of the
carriers making no effort to increase
their lists, but that they were throw
ing obstacles in the way of the State
Journal endeaVoring to increase its
lists in Topeka, and thereby increase
the carriers profits and reimburse
ourselves in part for the expenditures
inaugurated.
The offer of 20 cents per hour to
lively few replies, except those which
might come from people who are in
different to the fact whether the list
was large or small in the respective
routes.
While every one else on the State
Journal is striving to progress, I hope
the carriers viii now join in the work
along with US enthusiastically and en-
4 ergetically- You have never had such
an opportunity to build UP your routes
as the edition for Sunday has given
you.
I viii expect an answer. from you by
3 o'clock Friday If by that time you
feel you are not willing to carry the
paper under the new arrangement 1
have proposed, will be compelled to
take immediate action and cause the
papers to be delivered in Topeka be-
ginning Friday evening by other car
riers, although I do not contemplate
at this time selling any routes to any
one. Under the new arrangement
many of the carriers viii receive more
than $500 and $500 per week for
their services.
My business methods in the past
have been successful and I think you
may now feel no uneasiness about your
interests. You are doubtless aware
that many papers have been and are
being carried for 8 cents per week;
and in some cases for from y to ,
cents per subscriber per week; but
do not believe in cheap labor.
Very respectfully,
FRANK p. MAC LEHMAN.
If any subscriber now thinks he has
done any injustice to the State Jour
nal, he might authorize us to with
draw his name from the petition.