The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-05-19

bill increasing the maximum charge |
for publishing the delinquent poll |
tax lists from s25 to SIS. This bill
went through the legislature with little
opposition but the maximum should
have been at least $25 higher, as there
are a number of counties in the state
where the actual cost of composition |
for delinquent poll tax lists will reach
in the neighborhood of $50.
Most of the publishers l take it are
familiar with the new postal regula-
tons which went into effect the first
of January, 1908, which prohibit the
sending of daily papers on credit to
subscribers over three months; semi
weeklies over nine months; and week
ly papers over twelve months, with
out being subject to an extra postage |
at the rate of four cents per pound,
and also adding restrictions which |
limit the mailing of sample copies. 1t
is believed, however, that the new reg
ulations in regard to credit subscrib- |
ers will have the salutary effect of pro-
noting a cash in advance policy, and |
in that way will prove blessing in
disguise to most country publishers.
The pecial committee on foreign adj
vertising has promised to submit a
report and make recommendations at
this meeting. | recommend that the
association reiterate its protest against
the practice of the government of de-
priving the printing offices of the
country of the printing of over 10000
600 envelopes annually and call on
congress for it's correction.
| wish to say without flattery that
not since by acquaintance with the
Mississippi Press dating back over
thirty years, has it's moral tone and
standard been so high as it is today, or
its editorial utterances so independ-
ent. There is still much room for
improvement, however, and hope still
to- see earnest striving for a still
higher degree of excellence. Candor
compells me to say that | believe that
we have some editors in our ranks
who have never yet apprehended the
power, the influence and the obliga-
tions of the press or the honorable
recognition that is freely accorded it
by the public The very truth is that
an honest, fearless, intelligently edited
newspaper in the advocacy of . any
worthy cause is well nigh invincible
within the radius of its influence;
while venal, cowardlly mercenary
journal is almost equally potent for
evil and a curse to any people.
1t goes without saying that this
power and influence of the press car
ries with it its corresponding
responsibility and obligation, and
not only is the manager of a-newspa
per responsible for the influence, good
or evil, of what goes into its news
and editorial columns, but he is like
wise logically and morally response
BILE for the wrong and evil influence, If
such there be, done by his knowledge
and consent through his advertising
columns, or by paid matter published
under the guise of news or editorials
A few days ago at the Bankers
convention at Brookhaven, | heard
prominent banker on the floor of that
body arraign a portion of the press
| of the country for lending itself to
E advertising various frauds and i'm
y positions on the public, get rich quick
e schemes, quack doctors, patent medi-
: cine humbugs and the like. 1t was
declared to the extent that the pub
e lie was influenced, cheated and de-
t frauded by such newspaper advertis-
t ing, the publishers were particeps
4 criminis, and this indictment was a
true and just one.
f The influence of the press is so pc
e tent, the place it fills in society and
S the body polite so peculiar and import
ant that the publisher of a public
n journal cannot use or allow its column
s to be used for that which he knows
l. is fraudulent or wrong and justify hi;
j. conduct on the plea that It was pait
!. for and is business"
e Highway robbery is the business
/, of the bandit, safe cracking the "busi
s ness" of the burglar, liquor selling the
v business of the blind tiger, but be
a cause these things are done for money
It in no wise diminishes the moral turpi
IS tude of the act. The newspaper