Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-21
BLOW AIMED AT TAFT
William Allen White Exposes
Alleged Conspiracy.
"PATENT INSIDE" CAMPAIGN
Smaller Newspapers Being Used
Against Their Will.
MILLIONS ARE BEING SPENT
Alleged Effort to Arouse Public
Against Roosevelt
Policies.
PATENT INSIDE" CAMPAIGN
MILLIONS ARE BEING SPENT

Exposure of what he calls an "organ-
lied system to pollute the newspapers
and to prostitute public sentiment" comes
from William Allen White. author-edltor
of the Emporia Gazette, who flrSt
achieved fame by his editorial on What
the Matter With Kansas" Millions of
dollars, it is charged. are being spent In
legitimate advertising by 1.-The interests
in the shape of attacks on the policies OF
President Roosevelt, while. according to
the administration supporters. the small
er papers are being victimized through
the Vaccinations of the manufacturers
of so-called patent insides," whose
plates contain the same kind Of matter,
and which is being smuggled into the
columns of the country press. chorus
of protests from editors who feel them
selves to be outraged has been aroused.
and William Allen White has given out
the following interview:
For the last six months l have been
noticing in the various western papers.
those of the Missouri valley in particular
and in the mountain states. where Secre
tary Taft is particularly strong, adver-
tisements which have been appearing in
the leading newspapers obviously writ
might might be called the progressive re-
publican idea. These advertisements. in
many instances, are sent out by leading
advertising broker. They come directly
to the larger papers as part of annual
contracts made with these papers. cover
ing space contracted for at the first OF
the year, presumably to cover advertising
OF ordinary commodities.
Aimed at Roosevelt Policies.
THE copy for these advertisements
comes from the advertising agency in the
set up in the ordinary advertising type
Of the paper which accepts the advertis-
ing. The advertisements appear in papers
ranging from twenty inches to a page. and
are always directed at what might be
called President Roosevelt's policies. l
should say that advertising of this kind
in the larger papers would eat up an ap-
preparation of million dollars.
This is probably legitimate advertise
ethics. But great many smaller papers
all over the country receive their paper
from the larger cities printed on one side.
This method of printing one-half of the
patent inside. In the patent inside of
literally. thousands of American newspa-
pers this anti-Roosevelt matter is being
slipped in not marked as advertising and
not with the consent of the publisher.
vast amount of money is unquestionably
being paid out for this advertising. 1t
represents vicious fight on the part of
those whose dishonesty is being attacked
and uncovered by the President and his
associates. and there Is reason to believe
that the fight has just begun.
1T Is we'll for country editors during
the next three months who desire to main
tain their integrity and edit their own
papers to stipulate when making new ad-
the advertising shall not be of a political
nature. and it is important that editors
of country weeklies should carefully look
over their patent insides before using
them.
This determination of what may be
called the interests in American politics
to buy public sentiment in carload lots
is no game of tag. 1t is cold. hard bust
ness. organized with unlimited millions
behind it. and with a shrewdness checked
nv no conscience.
Plot Against TaftP
THE whole plot is directed at Secretary
Taft. There is no mistaking the fact
that the crowd which has dominated
American politics for SO long. which has
made candidates for the United States
Senate and for governor go with their
hats in their hands to lower Broadway
begging for nominations and support, will
not willingly give up the control of this
nation to the people. and they feel I'M
luestionably that their strongest enemy
today is Secretary Taft. Hence their or
ganized system to pollute the newspapers
and to prostitute public sentiment"
Bearing upon Mr.. Whites charge is
1 letter received in Washington from Mr..
]. w. Flickinger, editor of the Clyde.
Ohio. Enterprise. Il want you to know
said Mr.. F'lickinger. how country editors
like myself have been imposed upon. I
did not know that the paid Standard Oil
article was in my paper until 1 examined
the patent inside. after reading President
Roosevelt's last message, two days after
the paper had been printed and mailed
This was my experience. and it may
give you an insight into some things
with which you were not heretofore ia
miliar. 1 believe the country press is
with the President. notwithstanding the
attempts of the ready-print concerns to
c,ake dupes of the real EDITORS
An editorial from the Enterprise ac-
the letter. 1t indicates that
tn, other two newspapers of Clyde were