The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1911-10-27
A Knocker. Yes? What?

the stuff for the Montrose Press
calls the Independent man a knock
er because he called its scheme
special write-up edition a grave
yard proposition. The Independent
uid not wish to attack special edi-
lions, leglt1mately written, at home.
III the editor of a newspaper, with
the good assistance he can get from
his able booster citizens is not
capable of preparing resource mat
ter better than outsiders who know
little of real conditions, he should
quit the business.
The aim of the Independent was to
advise the people of the towns i'm
posed upon and of the newspapers
themselves imposed upon, that prof
fessionais who play the game of
writing up towns, or rather of writ
ing up citizens of towns, do not earn
their money; That in taking sixty
per cent of the price. amounting
to $500 or $500 in most cases for
couple Of weeks soliciting, demand
ed and received in advance and got
ten out of town with, they perpe-
trated hardship on the newspapers
they succeeded in victimizing, and
their patrons as we'll
We recognize that the newspapers
of the Western Slope-even the
Montrose Presumed all they can
obtain in advertising and other pat
ronage; that they need it to spend
in the expense of their publications;
need it to pay the interest on mort
cages, and that they could use much
more in building up their papers
to stronger position of usefulness
That is why the Independent objects
to grafters coming into the towns
where they are published and TAX
Ing money away which properly be-
longs to their expense fund. And
this has been condition in all of
our towns to an extent that threat
ems to exhaust the advertising funds
Of merchants and impoverish the
newspapers themselves.
The Independent had a chance to
take up the write-up proposition, as
the Press man knows, which is the
contending point; was solicited to
do so and was called up by phone.
The reply was mo! you ask too
much
On several occasions the indie
pendent has issued semi special edi-
tions, each of which has been prais-
ed and pronounced as entirely sat
isfactory and they have doubtless
resulted in as great good as though
their matter had been scratched off
ty couple of strangers at an ad-
diticnal expense of $500 to $500 to
the people of this city
Again let us explain-we do not
object to advertising, in personal
or display. 1t is all in place is
proper and an evidence of public
spirit. But it belongs by right to
the newspapers of the towns who are
struggling with every breath and
every penny they can raise to ad-
vertise community interests. rather
than to outside sharks who go from
town to town, taking away from the
newspapers support.
In the towns of this vicinity
Montrose, Delta and Grand juno
ton, about $500 was contracted
and collected in each, for the write
ups in question. Sixty per cent, or
2OOO VI Tie 9cVV WdS tdhth ~
by the solicitors and the remaining
5000 was turned over to newspapel
of each town which had gone into
the scheme. with which to pay for
getting out a special edition contain
ing the write-ups. If the forty pei
cent was enough for its. part. who
were the victims in the matter OF
the $500?
Three hundred dollars will go
long way toward carrying on a lot
of good publicity work in any town