The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-04
NATIONAL EDfToRfAL AssocfA.
TON GETS BUSY ON ouEs-
TON or INTEREST TO
NEWSPAPER MEN.

ING Ndlipuhl EhitOrlal Association
has decided to demand OF the Com
gress such revision OF the recently
enacted federal law as will give rail-
roads the right by law TO make CON
tracts with newspapers payable in nd
vertising. Below is a copy of the cir
GUAR letter the association has Just
addressed to the publishers of the
United States:
IA recent ruling OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission takes from the
railroads, under the new law, the
right to make contracts with newspa.
pers payable in advertising.
"A subcommittee from the Nation.
al Editorial Association recently ar.
peared before the Commission and
asked a modification of the ruling.
This was refused and the Committee
then took the question directly to
Congress. A bill was Introduced In
the House by Mr.. Garrett, of Tennes.
see. and in the Senate by Senator
Stone, of Missouri. providing that moth.
ing in the law should be interpreted
to prohibit such contracts. Interview ,
with leading Senators and Representa-.
tives brought out the general COM
ment that the Commissions ruling
was a construction of the law not In.
tended by Congress.
The National Editorial Association
Is therefore now urging the passage
Of one Of these bills, believing that
the right to make a legitimate con.
tract has been denied and that the
right of railroads and newspapers to
exchange commodities is a fundamen.
tai one and should not be taken away.
at a meeting of the subcommittee
1t was decided that the Secretary OF
n. L. A. should prepare and mail G
letter to all of the editors and pub
fishers Of the United States request
ing them to write at once to their u.
8. Senators and immediate Represen.
tatives urging them to vote for the
Stone or Garrett bill and the earnest
request is made that you give this i'm,
l,ortant matter Immediate attention.
addressing your Congressman at
Washington. The hope is expressed
that Congress will amend the bill as
suggested II the newspapers of the
country win take the question up with
their Senators and Representatives
and make a strong appeal for their
help.
Nothing has so attracted the pub.
fishers Of the United States as the
railing OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission. 1t is up to you to do
duty at this critical hour. All
that is asked is the right to exchange
our stock in trade (advertising) for
the railroad stock In trade t%transpor
tation). We desire to emphasize the
fact that we do not ask for passes
and not discrimination-only the righi
of contract.
"The National Editorial Association
Is expanding hundreds OF dollars to
preserve and protect your interests.
Will you show your appreciation by n
prompt compliance with this request?
Let he editors delage our Congress-
and Senators with digniGed yet
earnest appeals to stand by this ira
ditionaI privilege and we will win. II
you neglect to do your duty we will
fail. Write to-day.
~. E. Junkin, Kansas, president;
William A. A%shbrook, Ohio, secretary;
R. NJ. White, Missouri; w. F. Parrot,
Iowa; II. J. Knapp, New York; r. H.
Henry, Mississippi, National Editorial
Association Committee.
Twill you at once forward to the
corresponding secretary, William A.
A%shbrook. Johnstown. Ohio, the reply
received from your Senators and Con.
gressmen that the committee may not
only know the attitude OF your Repre-
sentatives, but that you have done
your daty?"
The circular letter as here given Is
certainly sufficiently plain in direct.
ing the editors and publishers what
to do. II they 80 desire.
In addition to the above William A.
Ashbrook, Of Johnstown. Ohio, has
the following circular on the
subject, to the members of the execu.
tive committee of the National Asso.
AT the recent meeting at Washing
ton of the subcommittee appointed by
the executive committee at st. Louis,
4th. the corresponding Sec
retay was instructed to request all
members of the executive committee
to at once issue a circular calling upon
all I&r, ~ 80. Al