The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-23
AGAINST PASSES.
The Kansas Editorial Associa-
tiOn Adopts Resolution.
Opposes Free Transportation
Other Questions Discussed.
CHARLES ISPRESIDENT-
.sssSzs@-ss
Next Meeting VIII BE Held at
EmpOria.
Topeka People Thanked for
COurtesies to Editors.
CHARLES ISPRESIDENT

mere came out strong against the ran
way pass.
To pass or not to pass an anti-pass
resolution was the issue that nearly
threatened to rend the Kansas Editor
ial association for an hour and a half
Tuesday afternoon.
The trouble was precipitated after
the discussion of the paper by d. r.
Anthony OF Leavenworth of 1.-The
transportation Question"
After Conner Davies had talked on
the subject introduced by Mr.. An
thony, resolution was presented to
the convention by the resolution COM
mittee. the committee having failed to
agree upon a resolution of this nature,
and taking the position that the ques-
ton should be fought out on the floor
OF the convention.
In substance the resolution sought
TO present to the legislature the feeling
that the editors did not think it within
the province of the lawmakers to take
away the right of contract between the
railways and the newspapers whereby
enc might sell a valuable commo-
dity. advertising space, for another
valuable commodity, transportation,
and specifying to the legislature that
railroad attorneys. doctors, sheriffs
and others were allowed the pass priv
ilege. the editor should be also allowed
to accept transportation.
Several of the editors took the posi-
tion that the passage of such a resolu-
ton was beneath the dignity of the
Kansas Editorial association, and that
it placed the editors in an inconsistent
attitude. as William Allen White eX-
pressed it. of asking that IF you allow
certain classes of crooks to have pass
es. why let US crooks also have the
passes" while all the time the editors
have been printing and advocating the
diScontinuance of the pass abuse.
The argument was made that If the
legislature took away by legal enact
Tnent any rights and privileges allowed
by the constitution. those rights could
be secured in the courts
After heated argument in which
several amendments were offered to
the original resolution it was passed
as follows:
Resolved. That we are in favor of
the passage of an antipass law. appli-
cable to everyone. save the officials ex-
clusiVely engaged in the railroad bust
ness and actual employees who travel
exclusively upon the business of the
road.
1--WE wish also to call the attention
of the legislature. which. is now con-
sidering an artipass law, to the fact
that newspaper transportation, has not
been classed as a pass or free 1t
tract basis giving a, valuable commodi-
ty-advertising@ another valuable
commodity transportation
William Allen White spoke briefly
remarks with a cordial invitation to
the association to meet in Emporia
next year. Tho invitation was &C
cepted.
Newspaper Premiums.
Frank P. MacLennan. of the State
Journal spoke against the giving of
premiums saying:
whether or not We wish to give
premiums depends largely upon
whether or not we wish to go into the
Il htTS no
too. on a basis of unfair competition
with our patrons. the advertisers.
"A well managed department store
IS quite sure to be success. unless it
has a newspaper as one of its depart
ments. The biggest stores in New
York and other large cities pay enor-
NOUS sums for advertising thus dem
onstrating that the paper and the
store should be conducted under sep
arate roofs.
"In towns where certain newspapers
lack local circulation, they often try to
take over the department store. feat
ure, contrary to the experience and
practice of such successful business
men as Marshall Field. John Wanna
maker. the Jones Dry Goods company,
Emery, Bird. Thayer and Crosby Bros
1T is hard to separate the giving Of
premiums from unfair dealings and
receptions, unfair because of discrim-
ination and because of mean advan-
tage to local advertisers. There is
more satisfaction, as we'll as more
honor, in a legitimate business than IN
q questionable one.
IF you give a premium to one sub
scrfber and not to another. it is re-
bate and not a traffic of the square
deal order and the square deal is the
popular and righteous one in all lines
in these later. better. modern days. Il
you give premiums to all subscribers
1t would indicate your price is too
high. Reduce it and sell paper for
No md
the readers go to the advertiser for
books. pictures, pianos, queensware,
talking machines and an assortment
OF fruit and ornamental trees
IF Billy Morgan of the Hutchinson
News, or Ed Howe of the Atchison
Globe, throw in a trip around the
world they improve their newspapers,
they give something of real news VAL
ne, but IL they should offer free with
each subscription a book of trave.s
they would cheaper their papers.
A subscriber has been seen coming
from a newspaper office in the spring
when nature and art exploit the green
with fruit tree under his arm Civ
en- free with a three months subscrlp
ton Budding geniuses are sometimes
FOOLED What do you think of a sub
scriber who goes to your office for a
peach tree. but expects you to deliver
his paper2 He wants the fruit rather
than the tree of knowledge and isn't
he paying for a young erehard-aHd -ex-
pecths you 10 TOSS MIN the paper?
Is 1t right for newspaper to ad-
vertise books at fair profit. and then
compete with the advertiser by offer
ing books free with subscriptions? Are
the books free. or are they really paid
for by the subscriber? And is the
newspaper not simply appealing to a
diseased desire to get something for
nothing. and can a subscriber get
something for nothing2
''If you give a dollar book with a
dollar subscription. what value do you
place on your newspaper? I am told
that a paper which one year begins to