The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-11-04
Astorian Takes Stand On Ere
Ad Idea
PRESS IS A REAL BUSINESS
Answer 20 Exposition Advance Agent
on Score Of Service Newspapers
Render and Their Right to
Adequate Compensation.

Some time ago the Morning Asto
rian made deliberate and decisive
declaration that II would for all tim,
to come. deny It's columns to the free
advertisement hailing from the Eek
, position" management here, there and
everywhere; and In answer thereto
the following letter comes to hand, b,
way OF justification OF the demands
made by these agencies. The letter
Is self-explanatory from the stand
point OF the writer, and Is as follows:
Seattle. Nov. |. 1900.
Editor Astorian. Astoria, oregon.
Dear Sir--I have before me IL
clipping OF the editorial printed In the
Astorian OF October 2srd In regard
to the policy OF the Alaska Yukon Pa
cific Exposition.
4 "Appreciating the stand you take.
| desire to put the matter before you
for fair consideration. In the first
place you have been mls-informed In
regard to payment OF some papers and
not the others. The Lewis and Clark
Exposition OF which had charge Of the
publicity department, did not pay one
cent to the newspapers or other publ.
cations for publicity. Every pafer
was given the same treatment. we did
not pay the large ones and ignore the
small ones. That would have been
as you state, n cheap policy" II isI
the intention Of the Alaska Yukon
Pacific Exposition To conduct it's pub
liclty campaign along similar lines
AS you may be aware there are more
than 10000 publications In this coun-
try. II we attempted to pay all OF
them or even n limited selected list,
which would be adopting that cheap
policy" to which you refer. II would
take as much money as the exposition
will cost. As we cannot spend money
with all the papers we will put them
on the same footing by not paying any
OF them.
Hoping you will appreciate the
spirit In which this letter Is written
and that since the matter has been
explained to you. you win give the ex-
position fair cansideration in Sour
columns. I am, Yours very truly,
FRANK L. MERRICK.
Chief Department OF Publicity
Mr.. Merrick's declaration that he
will put them all on the same fcbt-
ing by not paying any Of them" goes
to the very crux Of the entire situation.
Why should he look upon the news
paper In any other light than that in
which he regards the hardware houee,
the lumber mill. the clothing firm. the
hundred and one business establish
ments with which his board. or Com
mission, Of whatever It may be, does
business. for cash, good hard compen-
sating cash.
The Astoran Is a business house.
with a solid cash investment behind
it; 1t employs from twenty to thirty
people the year round on a payroll
averaging $1,000 per month What
for! For the same reason that any
other similar business is conducted,
to do business and make living, hon
est profit upon it's wares. What are
its wares? Or rather its ware? Sim
ply and solely its advertising columns. |
Why should these be given away be-
cause Mr.. Merrick, or any other Sec
retary asks II?
The principle is absolutely wrong,
and the Astorian has abandoned IT
for good and all.
Instead of paying none Of them"
we advise the secretary Of the Alaska
Pacific Exposition at Seattle,
to carefully select such newspapers as
are likely TO serve the interests he is
exploiting, employ their columns wise
ly, and pay them just as he pays for
other essentials. II this paper fills his
in such behalf The Astorian
will be glad to quote him a fair rate
for whatever he shall want In the
premises.