Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-02-22
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
ezzSiai;Bn
eoL,Tics AND ADVERTISING

eoLiTics AND ADVERTISING
We find some interesting questions
being developed by this primary cleo
ton law aside from those of law and
form. and questions that are of ethi-
cal interest and will appeal especial
" to candidates for Office. Among
them is the question of what is the
duty OF a newspaper, as business
institution, in giving space to the
declarations and pretensions of can
didates. and whether this matter is
OF an advertising nature, or such
stuff as a newspaper ought to print
as public institution, anxious to
serve the public.
We find a number of newspapers
of the state declaring that they have
received numerous platforms and
statements from candidates but that,
being unaccompanied with cash, they
have been surrendered to, the kindly
capacities of the waste basket. Now
this sounds, especially to the candi-
date, like wicked and inconsiderate
way to dispose of the pretensions of
a candidate who would be public
official, but on the other hand, if the
newspaper published without pay all
Of the platforms issued by all of the
candidates, he would. have no room
for either reading matter or advertis-
ing in his paper and his necessities
would go unsatisfied for lack of cash.
The primary law, as has been point
ed out, involves much expenditure
of time, energy and money, If the
candidate is to get before all the
people of the state. For minor Of
fees, we might say that no special
one of the candidates is much better
known than another, except so far
as he makes himself known AL
though it has been frequently stated
that yielding to an insistent and
continuous demand of the people
Mr.. So-and-So has consented tc
become candidate for Office, we have
not noted on the part of the people
in general, any loud and hilarious
demand for any particular candidate
The people up to this time have beer
rather phlegmatic and lacking in en-
thusiasm on behalf of anybody 81
that it has become question amons
the candidates as to who is able tt
make himself best known and news
paper advertising is a legitimate
part of his campaign expense.
So that there is justification in the
refusal of newspaper to publish
endless columns of matter professins
the desire of this or that candidat,
to serve the people. At the same tim,
it is the duty of newspaper to it
readers to publish the facts of new
candidates and such particulars a
they may deem proper from a new
standpoint. Knowing that this or tina
man is candidate, the people will
themselves will discover what he rep
resents and how worthy he is
The platforms of candidates, W
may observe, are unusually long thi
year and full of promises probabl
upon the theory that many promise
are necessary in a primary election
Some of the platforms we have see
cover everything, state, national an
insuIar. They run into columns
length and make specific declare
lions along many lines. Doubles
the people like to be promised mucl
But we should as matter of since
aty, honesty and squareness, preft
a platform which would content i
self with few brief declarations q
subjects that are of state impor
ance and interest, and that wou
otherwise declare for the serving
the public carefully, wisely and ;
well as possible, for we are of tt
opinion that the people themselv,
are pretty capable judges of me
and that long and tedious platform
viii not deceive them in the final a.
-alysis.
But. II the candidate is anxious
get before the people of the state
long and copious declaration Of pri
ciples, and wants 1t published, !
believe that the newspaper has /
entirely distinct right to accept B,
Tor It as matter Of advertising. al
that u the candidate would esca,
the cost Of this advertising, he shou