The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-07-05
Publishers Trust Victims.

Editorial From Greensboro Messenger
The Messenger has observed the
growing tendency to make the Ken
lucky press associatin practical bust
ness organization with pride and salts
faction. 1t has noted with pleasure
the substantial economic results of CO.
operation in purchases of material by
the Eighth district organization and
has wondered that the publishers of
other districts have not more promptly
acted upon similar lines.
Very material advantage may be
gained by such an organization and at
the rate all kinds of material necessary
in making a Newspaper, as we'll as the
cost Of labor. is advancing, it will be
a practical necessity for newspaper
publishers to learn where are the
best markets for SUPPLIES, as well as
to consider the advisability of advanc-
ing subscription and advertising rates.
1t is no exaggeration to- state that
the cost Of newspaper production to-
day is % per cent. greater than it was
five years ago and not only are the
newspapers at the mercy Of the paper
trust, but the typefounders trust the
typesetting machine trust. the stereo-
type and linotype metal trust are even
more exacting in their demands.
The additional cost of production has
only been met by heavy increase in
circulation and advertising.
While the great newspapers have
been aggressively fighting trusts be
tween national campaigns, they have
singularly refused to give united sup
port to the efforts in congress to re-
move the duty on wood pulp from
which newspaper is made, and like
wise the duty on foreign made type
setting machines has remained at 40
per cent, without a substantial pro-
test from them, though the profit on
the American manufactured linotype,
the only successful newspaper compos-
ing machine, is not less than 300 per
cent.
While the great Journals Of America,
some of which have hundreds of thou
sands of circulation daily, remain
helplessly in the hands of the paper
trust, it is idle for the country publish
ers of Kentucky to talk seriously of
establishing a paper mill. 1t seems
most remarkable that the great pub
fishers like Pulitzer, Bennett, Hearst
and Lawson did not years ago invest in
paper mills of their own, but none OF
them has done so. The paper trust has
apparently absorbed the great forests
and water rights so completely that
none of these aggressive publishers,
notwithstanding their vast millions,
has dared engage in competition in
making paper, even to supply his own
daily needs.
One publisher, Mr.. Nelson, owner of
the Kansas City Star and Kansas City
Times, with a combined circulation of
more than 100, O00-perhaps as much
as all the dailies of Leu .sville. LeXing-
ton, Owenbsoro and Paducah-abeut
four years ago built his own paper mill
at cost of nearly $500, 900, but ne ran
it not more than eighteen months. 1t
now stands idle and he is again buying
paper from the trust. This should be
enough for the Kentcuky Press Asso-
citation.
But a very material annual saving
by cooperation in letting contracts for
paper in large quantities may be made
and the whole press OF the State would
do well to place their order through the
purchasing agent of the Eighth Dis
trict organization. The Messenger be-
ing member of the American News
paper Association there are but four
other memberships held by Kentucky
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. exceptional advan-
tages Of inside information. 1t is will
ing at all times to give the members
Of the Kentucky press the benefit of
its information and experience.