The Tupelo journal., 1907-06-07
CAN COOPERATION
On the Part Of Local Papers in the
Same Community Be Made
Practicable.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen Of

When notified by your worthy secre-
tary that had been selected by the ex-
e~cutive committee to prepare and read a
paper on the above subject before this
meeting of the association, | was very
much disposed to decline and request
that some member better qualified be
named to handle this important question.
But upon further reflection / concluded
that it was my duty, as a member of the
association which has so often honored
me, to make an effort to serve in any
capacity its officials see fit to request.
That cooperation on the part of local
papers in the same community can be
made practicable has been so clearly, sue
cessfully and satisfactorily demonstrated
in Greenwood, "the Gem City of the
sun-kissed Yazoo-Tallahatchie Valley"
there is no question in the minds of the
editors and publishers of the Enterprise
and the Commonwealth, two of the most
successful newspapers in Mississippi.
There is no sane reason why a system
of cooperation cannot DE adopted and
carried out by the editors and publishers
in every city and town within the con
fines of Mississippi.
The greatest drawback seems to be
that the editors and publishers of the
newspapers in this as well as other
States are too much given to business,
envy and jealousy, and to the little petty
differences which they so unfortunately
permit politics to engender, for them to
get together and formulate IDEAS and
plans whereby their best interests would
be subserved. Too many of the mem
bers of this association, and of the edit
Ors and publishers who are not MEM
bers of it, are not on friendly speaking
terms with one another-principally due
to the influence of some little political
difference from which neither of them re-
ceived any material benefit or apprecia-
ton from the parties whose interests
would be subserved. Too many of the
members of this association, and of the
editors and publishers who are not mem
bers of it, are not on friendly speaking
terms with one another-principally due
to the influence of some little political
difference from which neither of them
received any material benefit or appre-
citation from the parties whose interests
produced the unpleasant relations.
These arrangements of friendly rela-
tions produce an unhealthy business ri
valry, a jealousy akin to foolhardiness, a
disposition to engage in a cut-throat bus
mess, an absurd determination to take
advertising, job printing and subscrip-
tions at starvation prices-just to keep
the "other fellow" from getting the
work! Shame on such a foolish policyi
| regret to acknowledge this state of al
fairs exists to such an extent III the
profession to which | belong, and in
which / take such a devoted interest.
/ can't understand why editors and
publishers-men of good, common sense
cannot differ in their opinions, political
and otherwise, and still be friendly So
cially and in business affairs. 1t is i'm
material to me who my friend, Brother
Dixon, of the Enterprise, supports for
United States Senator, Governor or bail
if, notwithstanding the fact that he
sometimes displays seemingly very poor
judgment; it makes no difference how
much he writes about there being a race
issue" orr trace problem" or how much
space he wastes on the idle dream about
repeating the fifteenth amendment and
modifying the fourteenth amendment;
nor do l lose any sleep over the many
other questions on which we have a right
to differ. We 60 right along, day by
day, meeting and greeting each other
with a hearty h~owdy-do and a sincere
wish-you-wen in business and social af-
fairs.
This is our idea in Greenwood as to
what are right and proper relations be-
tween members of the newspaper frater-
nifty. We have forgotten how to look
sour and grum at one another, and we
are both better off for it.
We have adopted a policy, or system,
up there in that superb city on the great
Yazoo river, which we believe to be far
superior and more beneficial than all
the discussions, resolutions, and clap
trap propositions ever promulgated at
the different sessions of this association
relative to regulating rates for all kinds
of printing.
provided the parties to it are honest,
child need not experience the least bit
1t is simply this: We believe the Ia
UOlcI II tNtlN way WolluN VI HIS niIt,
and for this reason we have an agreed,
legitimate, reasonable, living rate for all
classes of advertising, job printing and
subscription, and we live up to it every
minute in the hour, every hour in the
day, every day in the week and every
month in the year.
In making these rates we were eau
tious not to place them on an extortion-
80 I--I1 I.% %A01- -a-@,a,1n. -, -
estimate every item so that each piece of
work would yield a reasonable profit to
our respective offices.
Our prices are the same on advertis-
ing space, on job printing and subscrip-
ton. The individual who chases from
place to place to get the lowest figures
on a piece of printing is given the same
prices at each office. We leave the mat
ter absolutely with the customer as to
which office he places his order.
This plan works splendidly in Green
wood, and | think it would prove equally
as satisfactory elsewhere, and l would,
indeed, be proud to see the day when
the editors and publishers in every city
and town in Mississippi get on the same
friendly terms and satisfactory business
basis which we enjoy.
Another suggestion along this line. /
find that the merchants and other bust
ness men nave a higher appreciation Of
the value of advertising space, job print
ting and the newspaper, when the pub
Usher charges good prices for his work,
and they have more respect for the pub
| Usher as a business man and citizen.
| The first-class business man cannot but
have a certain degree of contempt for
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