The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-10
WOULD
STOP JOKERS
EDITORS WANT GIVING
OF FALSE NEWS MADE A
CRlME-WlLL PREPARE BILL.

The Illinois Daily Newspaper as
sociation, before adjourning It's an
nual meeting at Decatur, took action
against the merry joker whose IDEA
of side-splitting wit lies in securing
the publication of false engagement
or wedding notices,
The association instructed its legls-
/ Iatiye committee to prepare bill for
submission to the legislature making
the giving of false information to
newspapers a misdemeanor or crime,
according to circumstances. and pro-
viding for a punishment by imprison-
ment in the penitentiary.
The instruction was given unani-
mousy and the bill will be backed
by every newspaper of consequence
in the state of Illinois.
Newspapers Are Helpless.
The discussion on the proposition
was an interesting one. As indicated
above, the most common form or an
noyance is by the jealous, malicious,
or would-be jocular individuals who
secures the publication of engage
ment or wedding notices. Almost ev-
cry publisher present was able to cite
numerous instances where his paper
had been the unwilling instrument Of
annoying and sometimes pitiful inIur-
ious malice of this kind
The impossibility of a newspaper
protecting itself was shown III cas;s
where letters or kilograms contain
ing announcements and purporting 10
be signed by the relatives of the IN
terested parties have been received,
and several instances We're cited
where women had called at news a
per offices and falsely pretended to be
the sister or other relative of one of
the principals, giving detailed infor-
nation regarding the supposed COM
ing event.
Another form of false Information
of which newspapers are the victims
is business information apparently
innocent in itself but actually injur-
ious 10 some one by connections with
matters only understood by technical
persons.
The new law, if passed, viii maze
this giving of false information dan
gerous matter, as the newspapers OF
the state will join in the apprenen-
sion and prosecution of those gurty
and will use all their influence TO Sc
cure the most hearty cooperation on
the part Of every official.
Will Enforce Postal Laws.
Another matter of great importance
to the newspaper reading public was
the intimation that the rostoffice de-
partment Is no longer going TO wait
for the enforcement of the ruling pro-
viding that all papers sent through
the mail shall be paid for in advance
or cut off at the end OF ninety days.
The penalty for this is the exclusion
of the offending newspaper from :ye
mails.
1t was explained that the postoffice
has been extremely leni-
ert since the ruling was announced
two years ago. 1t recognized the long
standing practice of extending credit
TO subscribers and desired to avoid
any action that would constitute a
hardship either on the newspapers or
the subscribers.
President Pindell explained that
the department had been largely guild
ed in deferring action by the pledge
of the Illinois Daily Newspaper as
sociation that its members would en-
force the regulation at the earliest
possible moment. This has been done
by the newspapers of Danville, De-
catur. Quincy. Bloomington and prao-
tically all the large newspapers in
the state excepting Springfield, Rock
lord and Joliet.