Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-20
LISTEN
TO fine SPEECH
John A. SLEICHER ADDRESSES
NATIONS SCRIBES
USES AND ABUSES OF THE PRESS
FORM HIS SUBJECT
Prominent Postmaster Also Talks to
the ST. Paul convention--Justlties
Third Class Rates--Penny
Postage Discussed
Rv Associated Press.

the National Editorial association TO-
day, Third Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral A. L. Lawshe in an address SAD
that the present rates on second class
matter are justified, but he is not IN
favor of increasing the rates. He de-
MED the truth of the statement ehat
the express companies carry more
newspapers than does the postothce de-
| partment Mr.. Lawshe said there is
great demand for penny postage anu
with the second class matter brought
| back to its original basis as INTENDED
| by congress and with the elimination
of a few other costly abuses, ne pre-
dicted that publishers may continue 10
| enjoy the present second class rates OF
postage and that the business men Oh
the country may secure in due season
the cent-an-ounce rate.
The morning session closed with an
address by John A. Sleicher, editor
of Leslies Weekly, on "Delusions;;
Mr.. Sleicher's speech was exceptionally
vigorous, and well received. He said:
The "Ha'penny Press"
"It has been said in England that the
world is being educated by the half
penny press, and we know that in this
| country the one-cent newspapers are
giving the masses most of their instruc-
ZION. IedCHlfS 10 HOl always SNNSN
ton, for everything depends on what
is taught.
What are we teaching-right or
wrong, truth or error, justice or injus-
tice? One of our delusions is that the
| public has an infallible conscience, ana
that newspapers that follow public
opinion cannot go wrong. Conscience
is not infallible. A morbid condition
may hide it's infirmity behind the guise
| IN 0nncpinnna and mnka it the accom-
plice of guilt. Newspapers are often
responsible for creating vicious public
opinion and then running away from
| it's evil consequence, like the boy who
| lights a fire on top of a haystack and
has to fly to save his life.
1.-THE public persists in the delusion
| that newspapers are printed for philan-
thropic purposes. The publishers, who
have the bills to pay, labor under no
such false notion. Newspapers, maga-
zines, weeklies, and quarterlies are pub
lished for profit, all of them and all the
time. They are business propositions.
Their purpose is no different from what
it was fifty years ago. Why has their
character changed? Because their
readers have changed. The public has
come to believe that the newspaper has
taken the place of the theater and
circus as we'll as the school and the
pulpit; that 1t must emb''iish the news
until it reads like fiction, and advocate
code of morals that will take the
starch out of the Ten Commandments.
Newspapers that cater only to the good
are therefore as lonesome as solitary
tombstone in a newly opened cemetery.
But let us seek the light.
ut is a delusion if you imagine that
l am assailing journalism. The press
will be what 1t is until public opinion
rests upon a higher plane. The reader
buys the newspaper that appeals to
him. He prefers one that supports his
political views, that f1atters his con-
ceits, and that patronizes his prejudices.
1t may be inaccurate, unfair and mis-
leading, but that makes no difference
to the man who is a partisan in every
thing.
lnequitable Libel Laws
"You boast of the power of the press,
but you are the victims of inequitable
libel laws that you have not the power
to repeal. You are outraged by absurd
and arbitrary postal rulings, not en-
acted into law, under one Of which you
are forbidden to extend such credit as
you desire, and such as every other
business gives to its patrons. You are
debarred from mail privileges without
a hearing until you have already been
made to suffer. A senator of the United
States, who had given financial aid to a
struggling magazine, told me he had
lost over $4,000 Because of the harm
done to the publication by the arbi-
trary ruling of a subordinate of the
postal department. Yet the constitu-
tion declares that Congress shall pass
no laws abridging the freedom of the
press
"By a very questionable ruling of the
interstate commerce commission you
were suddenly forbidden to do what you
had always done, namely, to exchange
space in your publications at full rates
for railroad mileage at full rates. The
public service law of the state of New
York, with the cordial approval Of Gov
ernor Hughes, was amended before its
passage so as to specifically legalize
this exchange.
"All credit to the stalwart members
of the New York State Editorial as
sociation that they promptly resented
the attempt to pass public utilities
bill that would interfere with the con-
duct of their business. / do not speak
for free transportation, for do not be-
lieve in it. We are better off without
1t. speak of an exchange of commo-
dities on a fair and equal basis, in
which no favor or preference is in
volved.
"Have you been able to suppress the
| piratical advertising devices, that are
| disfiguring Natures beauties every
| where and cutting the life out of your
| business? The advertising sign nui-
sance began with a modest hand bill
and was followed by the bill board
| Now blazing electrical signs, decorative
displays of dimensions immeasurable,
street cars and platforms, fields and
fences, barns and warehouses are ali
| utilized for advertising purposes and
| supplanting the use of the newspaper.
| When everybody had plenty of adver-
| tising, you said this diversion was not
worth noticing; but, when hard times
| began to cut your patronage, you sud-
denly realized that you had rights that
ought to be respected. I fear that,
with all their boasted power, the editors
Of this country have not as much in
f1uence on legislation, at Washington
especially, as Sam Gompers. Today
the power in politics is the party boss,
whom the press makes, but cannot un-
make or control The maker should be
| the master
1.-THE urgent need of every great
| American city is for daily news
paper that shall print less and better
news; that shall exercise such censor
ship over it's columns that no ones
character shall be assailed, no insti-
tution,s standing be discredited, no
vested right be jeopardized. and no
man or woman's motives impugned
until the editor has justified his state
ment. Better less news and real
news; better news a day late than a
day earlier and wrong.
"It has been said that this is time
of many books and little literature
1t might be added that this is an age
of many newspapers and little news
/ What do the voluminous Sunday news