The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-11
ADDRESS OF PRES.
WRIGHT TO EDITORS
EDITOR OF CAKES TIMES URGES
PUBLISHERS TO GET TOGETHER
ON PRICES AND SUGGESTS 9TH.
Err REFORMS FOR BENEFIT OF
STATE ASSOCIATION.

STATE ASSOCIATION.
The principal feature of the open-
Ing session Of the annual convention of
the North Dakota Press association at
the commercial club room this MORN
ing was the annual address of the
president, Alex r. Wright OF The
Cakes Times. President Wright urged
upon his fellow publishers the neces-
sity of cooperation in all lines of the
business, and especially in the matter
OF uniform rates for the same grade
of work. He also called attention to
the fact that the postoffice department
of the United States last year printed
more stamped envelopes than ever be-
fore, and he asked the publishers TO
write the states representatives in
congress to support certain measures
aimed at this pernfcious practice. Mr..
Wrtght's address follows in full be-
low: "
1t has always been a pleasure 10 me
to attend these annual gatherings of
the North Dakota Press association.
1t is privilege every editor in the
state should enjoy-for it not only
brings him in closer relation with his
brother publisher, but there are many
things discussed that can not help but
instill into his mind better business
methods and better ways of more sue
cessfully conducting his newspaper.
There are none of us too old to learn,
none Of us so expert but we can get
some material help from the exper-
fence of others.
... Need of CO. operation.
These are the DAYS of co-operation
The conduct of a newspaper is no diff
ferent from any other line Of business.
There is no more reason for publishers
charging different prices for the same
grade Of work than there is for the
butcher, the grocer. the dry goods
merchant, the banker, or any other
legitimate line of business. You will
find the butchers charging the same
price for a pound of tenderloin; you
will find the grocers giving the same
number pounds of sugar for 81 or
charging the same price for dozen of
eggs; the merchants have the same
prices for similar grades of clothing;
the bankers of a city are agreed on
the rate of interest you must pay. And
IL
But it is little different with the
newspaper men, Some will accept
from to cents per inch for adver-
Using when the price charged should
be from 10 cents to Is cents. / know
one newspaper man last year who ac-
copied an order from a foreign adj
vertising concern at the rate of cents
per inch--Just to fill space you know
AX-E-. l
way and not as the contract specified
and in a recent issue of he paper
there appeared the following roast, |
which included all advertising aGen-
cies of whatever character:
Did any of you country editors run
up against any of these advertising |
agencies? We have, and honestly be- |
lieve that of all the cheap skates that
were ever allowed to run at large that
some of these are the worst OF course
they generally get something that your
home merchant is selling and then
make contract with the editor to run
this advertising. They pay from 2 to
8 cents per inch for the same while
the home man pays 10 cents per inch.
The one we dealt with made a con-
tract to run seven different electros
and then sent out only four. We used
them as best we could for the seven /
issues and then found that we had
the palrry sum of $2.SS coming. Wei
still have 1t coming. The best thing
to do when you get a proposition from
a firm like this is to put 1t clear in the
bottom OF the waste basket or con-
sign 1t to the flames"
Benefits of Organization.
That is Just the way some news
paper men conduct their business.
They do not take the trouble to in
qiure into the responsibility of an adj
vertising agency before accepting of
their contract, but enter into an agree
menr, blindly, foolishly. 1t Is just to
cure such business methods that such
an organization as this exists. Before
the North Dakota Press association
was organized the newspaper men of f
the state were Obliged TO accept for
foreign advertising just what was Of
fered There was no other way out OF
It, If the advertiser was turned down
IN one place they would get IL in an
other But the newspaper men got their
heads together They decided to turn
down all advertising unless they re-
sCiNGu pay l1S AhLC uAAA ~ ~AAS 4
sign advertising was turned over to
Mr.. Theis OF st. Paul. 1t was the duty
Of the publisher to turn over all
foreign contracts to him. Lee him ex-
anime into the customers reliability,
make contracts. collect and turn over
The publisher what was coming to him.
Tr was hard work for i few years The
former advertisers would send their
5x-81 n 4@wv4 ffN sal u
up the agreement Some of the pub
fishers would sign up, but enough Of
them held to their agreement and as a
result today we are getting decent
prices for our space and about all the
irresponsible advertising concerns have
been driven from the field
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