The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-30

edge the effect for good, educationally
and industrially, that expositions have
had, it seems to me to be Of vital in
terest to the people in general that the
inhibition against the manner Of rail-
road making payment for advertise
ing contracts be removed.
Expositions are dependent for their
success upon the generosity and SER
vices of newspapers for exploitation.
1t is the newspaper that tells the peO-
pie what expositions are to be, and
through the medium of their news col
umns people are induced to visit them.
If the people visit the expositions, they
must be brought by the railroads. The
newspaper man has space to sell; the
railroad has transportation to sell. The
newspaper man wants transportation;
the railroad wants advertising. If the
railroad is willing to trade it's trans
pOrtation for newspaper space. and
the newspaper is willing to trade it's
space for transportation it would seem
Ouly JUST lIldl tiSy NC pei hIiltCu ~
write their contract without the inter-
ference of a law which appears to we'll
informed men to be an infringement
of the right of contract, which is one
of the fundamental principles of Ii
berty and law.
This department is not taking the
attitude of sitting as a high court
upon this question, but simply stat
ing the case as it appears 10 me at
ter careful consideration. l have been
in touch-as above stated-with var
ious press associations, and recently
special committee of the National
Editorial association visited the expo
sition, and after conference with this
department, it was found that their
views conceded with mine, and it was
decided to use every possible effort to
restore old conditions. I believe I can
say-and there are some reasons why
my judgment may be considered COM
petent-that. unless this law be amend
ed. or a favorable ruling secured, that
eXpositons. to be held in the United
States in future, will, instead of being
great national and international insti
tutions, have their spheres of influence
circumscribed to such an extent as
might be considered merely local, for.
without the help of the press, no ex-
position Nn be made a success. This
law also threatens the life of every
press ad publishers association, for
obvious reasons, and viewed from any
possible side, it seems to be detri
mental to the press directly. and in
directly to the country in general.
The legal department of the MOnon
railroad has made test case in Chi
United States is to be asked to pass
upon the question whether a railroad
company can issue transportation in
exchange for advertising in newspn
pers, and the cOmpany's attorneys
urge that the ruling of the interstate
commerce commission denies the free
dom of contract to a particular class.
The rule as universally stated and
upheld by the courts, is: What the
parties agreed shall constitute the
payment, the law will adjudge to be
payment. 1t is competent for parties
to designate by their contracts how
and in what payment may be made.
1t is by no means true that payment
can be only made in money: on the
contrary. it may be made in property
or in services"
The inhibition they added against
charging a greater or less or different
compensation relates alone to a diff
ference in the "established rate" and
not to the manner Of making payment
Now. in view of all this. this depart
ment feels that it is justified in call
ing upon all newspapers and news
paper men to. personally and editor
tally, call upon their representatives in
congress to use every effort to secure
a favorable ruling, or an amendment
to the law.
In the meantime, it is hoped that
an early decision may be handed down
by the supreme court of the United
States, in order that the matter be
definitely disposed of. Whether or not
this desired change may be brought
about in time to benefit the James
town exposition, or can be brought
about at all, I do not know; but if
by our efforts we are able to bene-
fit the press people of the United
States, We shall feel that we have ac-
complished some good.
In case you care to use this letter
editorially. l would be pleased to have
you do So
Yours for the good of newspaper
men.
A. l.. SUTTON.