The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-03-12
Heart to Heart Talk


The following editorial in last week
Monroe Joural applies to the Hustler
and every other country weekly news
paper, and we hope our subscribers will
read it carefully:
A newspaper and the subscribers who
read it from year to year stand IA very
intimate relations to each other. They
ought to be able to have q little talk
with each other occasionally on business
matters without misunderstanding each
other. You feel very close to the edi-
tor whose words you read week by week.
year in and year out. We know this
both from our own experience, from
what others have told US, and from the
fact that unless you did have some such
feeling, coupled with respect, you would
not continue in the relation of subscrib-
er, Presenting, therefore, that our sub
scribers will take what we have to say
at its face value, we want to speak q
few words in candor.
You have noticed from time to time
che statement that after April the first
the postomce Departments will not deliv-
er papers to subscri bers who are n
year in arrears with their subscriptions.
Have you stopped to think why this rule
has been made? It Is no mere within of
the department, but q dire necessity,
made so by the good OF the public as
well rs by the needs of the department.
Why are you able to buy q paper like
The Journal and have 1t delivered at
your door ffty-tWo times q year for the
small sum Of one dollar? One reason is
that the government does not charge
you anything for. carrying it to you.
Many people do not know this, but 1t Is
90, that is II you live in the county In
which the paper IL published. II you
live out of the county, the government
charges ut the rate of one cent q pound
for carrying the paper to you. Now,
why does the governments do this? Be-
cause it considers that the distribution
of good newspapers and periodicals is
necessary to the welfare and happiness
of the people and that it il right for the
government to aid In distributing these
as cheaply as possible 30 that th'y wi'
be within the reach of rs many peorl,
as possible.
Now, here Is the point: Under tn S
ruling a great many worthless pubiica-
lions have sprung up Mat serve no use
full purpose but are printed and distribut-
ed for private gain. Most Of them are no
good, the people do not subscribe for
them and 10 many cases do not want
them in their homes. Yet if your name
ever gets Ia the hands of one Of these
sheets they will be sent to you forever
whether you refuse to take them or not.
The publishers do not expect you to
pay. All they want is to get them into
your handsfor some Interior purpose
Sometimes that purpose is to preach
socialism, anarchy, or some other nefar
ious doctrine. Most often, however
the publishers expect to make money
and do make millions out of the fraudu
lent schemes which they advertise anC
expect you to bite at. These advertiser
can't get in reputable papers that PEG
pie subscribe for and pay for year b.
year. Now the mass of this literatur
has grown so great that it is costing tn,
government millions of dollars to carr
and it is swapping the mail service
Therefore a ruling must be made tina
will shut these out and still let legiti
mate papers go to the people free or q
q low rate This ruling requiring tbs
no papers except those whose reader
subscribe for and pay for them win b
sent, Is the only way the departmer
can get rid of the evil, So you see th
reason for the ruling. The governmer
| thinks that If you want . paper 20
want it bad enough to pay for IL With
the year It is sent. 1t is not q desire t
regulate nyour business or mine, bu
merely to protect itself. And it viii no
be q hardship on any honest man.