The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-16
WHO READ TIE PAPER-

The State Journal trusts that it viii
be pardoned for patting itself on the
/ back as 1t gazes at its local circulation
figures. Believing. as 1t does. in Civ
( ing the facts in the case. this paper
/ blushingly admits that it is open to
congratulation on having the largest
circulation that it or any other paper
ever had in Topeka
When conditions and circumstances
are considered, this is remarkable at
this time of year. Previous to this the
highest record on local newspaper
circulation was during the flood OF
1904 There was extraordinary inter
est at that time. Everybody wanted
to know what happened just as soon as
It happened. and consequently nearly
everybody in Topeka who could read
subscribed for the State Journal. and
a good many copies were sold on the
street besides. In a case Of that kind
people do not depend on any
publication that hires subscribers to
take it by throwing in a dictionary. or
a talking machine. or some other piece
Of merchandise.
But in the present instance there is
nothing unusual to create an unusual
demand for papers. Interest in cur
rent events is no greater now than it
was a year ago. Then, too, at this
time of year there is a considerable
number Of people leaving the city and
moving out on the farms who are thus
eliminated from the local circulation
list.
Notwithstanding these facts the
State Journals circulation in Topeka
is steadily climbing this spring and is
now larger than it has ever been even
during times OF great public excite
ment It is doubtful If there are very
many other newspapers in the coun-
try that can show as large a percent
age of subscribers among the popula-
ton of their home cities as the State
Journal. Counting four and one-half
persons to a family the State Journal
reaches upwards of $4,000 people in
Topeka, but the copies that go into
boarding houses. restaurants and the
like reach so many more than the
size of an average family that the
aggregate is probably more like 34.-
600. There is. of course, a certain
percentage of HHterates who cannot
read. There are also other persons
a few-whom the carriers cannot trust.
When these two classes are deducted
from the 81, 641. people reported in To-
peka by last years census, it can be
readily seen that the number Of re-
liable persons in Topeka who can read
and who do not read the State Journal
is comparatively small.
1t should be borne in mind. too. that
the only inducement the State Journal
holds out to its subscribers is that it
gives the news. It does not try to hire
people to read it by offering them
musical instruments. razors, fruit trees
or any other class of merchandise.
People who desire these things are ad-
vised 70 go to the merchants of Topeka
for them. Nor does the State Journal
conduct any piano or. voting contests
Its only claim to the good viii Of its
readers is that it gives them the news
as honestly and fearlessly as it knows
how, believing that is what most peo-
pie subscribe for a newspaper for.
It is very easy matter to get a few
subscribers for any sort of a paper.
For instance, there are persons in To-
peka. who dislike the State Journal for
personal or other reasons. and they
will take other papers to encourage"
them To be sure they usually take
this paper also in order to get the
news. Ihere are OLnef persons WIZ
will subscribe for other papers from
reasons Of sympathy or friendship for
them-very proper reasons. So it is
not a hard matter to get few sub
scribers for any paper. But after a
paper reaches so or 40 per cent of the
people Of a community. it is uphill
work getting any further with a
mediocre publication. A paper that
reaches SO per cent of it's local publica-
ton Is a good one. and one that goes
above IS per cent is extremely good.
After the so per cent mark is reached
it is like pulling teeth to get more. The
State Journal has passed that point
and continues to mount upward That
Is why It feels like pattiug itself on