New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-05-06
RENDERING SERVICE

Perhaps 10 institution IA a com
miuity renders more free service
10 the community as u whole al,
ia each individual institution an,
industry than the newspaper
There seems to spring ctetnal II
the human breast an impression
thai n newspaper is public prop
ertN that it belongs to the pub
lie aHd not only must II lend is
Influence 10 promote the public
welfare. but that il should LEND
ts support to industries conduct
ed for private profit should give
TO promote affairs conducted 10,
personal profjl oH for releona
glory. \ newspaper ms husl-
ness proposition succeeds or faliS
according 70 lis merits. a news
paper in financial straits and I'm
able 70 respond with that liberty
which pleascs the public is q pitt
able sight. The public deserts IT
quicker than rats desert a sink
ing ship. VI is constantly on trial
before the public. and its bust
ness aud its policy are considered
a fit and proper subject FOR pub
lie criticism. A man who has de
voted his life to the law would
ridirulr the idea of gong into. the
drug business because he would
realize that he knows nothing OF
that business. a street ear con
ductor would admit his inability
10 hold down job in a bank, a
bank clerk would acknowledge
that he knows nothing of run
ming a street ear. Yet was there
ever man who considered he was
unfit and incapable of running
newspaper Where in the re
MI to corners Of the earth may
O. expect to find man who
MI confess tbat he does not
Kfibw how a newspaper should be
conductedf
A newspaper is a business in
atitutien. either owned by indiv,d-
uals IA partners or incorporated,
just as the drug store, the hard
ware store. the street car com-
pany. thr grocery store or the
butcher shop 1t lis Judged o2
the same standards in the ma
ter OF paying its debts and pur-
chasing supplies. No other bus
mess concern IN the city or coun-
try sells to a newspaper cheaper
than TO any one else. yet every
concern in the community expects
the newspaper to sell its product
AT reduced rates or give IT away.
Have you friend. or two or three
friends who rendered you pleas
ing service or who synpathized
with you in a greet sorrowG You
Immediately apply to the news
paper to COMPENSATE that friend
Tor his sympathy of printing a
card Of thanks. Do You plan 10
give "A concert. mn amateur play,
n church festival. a dinner for the
benefit Of the aid society," Ym
Immediately plunge to the news.
paper office and not only demand
space. but YOU demand that the
newspaper shall USE its paid aud
trained men to prepare the copy
10 give their time and brains and
talents to promoting n thing for
which they can receive no possible
benefit. and for which they will
not even receive thanks, because
the publie has come TO look upon
n newspaper as public property,
Publicity is a newspapers asset
The business Judgment, she
brains. the effort and the strug-
gle and toll put behind a newspap-
err makes Il a success or failure.
If il IL II success il becomes the
target OF every person seeking to
make use of that publicity which
has been made valuable by these
efforts. No other institution IN
the city is asked to contribute
one -hundrcdth part as much to the
public as il the newspaper. II must
give freely to charity. to private
enterprise. to public welfare and
IL every cause. private or public.
in The community. Why For
no reason other than the public
that \ newspaper be
longs To the public. Il is a pleas
nre IN all walks Of life to Render
service where gratitude is mani
tested hut IN rendering a service
the newspaper is rarely rewarded
with gratitude. The service is ae-
cep.ed IA a just and proper serv-
ice. and The recipient Of the favors
will perhaps stop his paper the !
next day because an .splnlon has
heen expressed which d,sagrees
With his views
- newspaper is expected to
<ht AT wrongs, to promote lag
M business, IA. develop interest
II RELIGION. q Increase respect for
,r. and artistic things, to elect
nen 70 office. to bring dollars to
he pockets Of individuals. to fill
he treasury OF the charitable in
sti,utions with gold. to check
.rs,,,n a. rAstnr, lnnnsfir falinifN Il