The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-14
Smith Center Senator After the
Newspapers.
Has a Bill to Prohibit All POlit-
ical Advertising.
GOT ALL THE MONEY.
Says Papers Left Candidates
Nearly Stranded.
Wants to See Reform Bus
iness'' Handled Right.
GOT ALL THE MONEY.

If a bill to be offered in the senate
by J. T. Reed of Smith Center be-
comes a law there will be any NUMBER
of bargain days in Kansas country
newspapers. Reed proposes to make IT
a nisd emeanor for any candidate to
offer or anv newspaper to accept any
money, patronage or promise for polltl-
cal advertising in q campaign. never
since the anti-paSS law has a Dill oeen
introduced in the legislature which. II
enacted into law, would play sucn
an important part in the shaping or
the political policies of the state.
In the Reed bill the exchange OF
money and patronage for newspaper
publicity, is a crime punishable on the
part of both parties by fine or jail SEN
tence or both.
The Reed bill will probably be one
of the most extreme documents pre-
sented during the session-and Reed
is not an avowed reformer, either. HIS
bill would make it a misdemeanor for
any candidate to buy space from any
newspaper other than the old time
four-line stereotyped announcement.
It makes the burden equally btnuing
on the newspaper that accepts more
than the most nominal announcement
fee from any candidate The bill pro-
Vides for either a fine, jail sentence OF
both and offer or promise OF money
patronage or favor Is barred IN the
most pronounced language. Unlike the
argument used by the Square Dealers,
against the railroad passes, because
they were given away, the Smith coun-
ty senator argues against the buying OF
newspaper space because it costs
money He contends that a mans
privilege of buying store clothes and
sirloin steak does not extend to the
point that he may invest in printer
ink in order that he may ride to a
public job. Reed further alleges that
the candidates do the work and the
newspapers collect the pay and that
the man without newspaper patronage
can not safely poll his own household.
This is d mighty serious piece OF
husin ess" exclaimed the Smith Cen
ter gentleman, as he took a few min
utes from the duties of manufacturing
law and discussed his new Scheme-
s'Yhy do you know that last year the
uewsDapers got about all the money the
candidates had-Ieaving out of the
question the men who have ten figure
bank accounts. The poor fellow who
did not have a bank roll couldnt
break into the newspapers with a.
Jimmy 1 know of one Kansas candi-
date who mortgaged his home to run
for office. Now there is man living
in the house who runs reform news
paper.
Immense Expense of Campaign.
why do you known continued
Reed, that in the last campaign the
newspapers were not only paid thous-
ands of dollars, but hundreds OF thous-
ands of dollars. If YOU were candi-
date you had to buy space; and If you
bought space one place, you mad TO
buy in every little one horse, two by
six sheet in the district, or you were
ostracised by all of them. Then there
would be some fellow running for the
same office you were. who would buy
A few lines more than you did. 1t
was Immediately up to you to hike the
ante, or be again in bad grace with
newspaper society. This thing keeps
up just as long as a candidates money
lasts. If he wins, he spends two or
If he loses-well it's the handiest
thing to Just send over and ask the
sheriff to separate the property.
Il think my bill is just and fair
one. I have no kick on the newspaper
boys. There. are some mighty good
fellows in the game and they have al
ways treated me fairly. What 1 want,
though, is to see this reform business
handled right. A lot of fellows want
this initiative and referendum and re-
call and they will let the newspapers
boss the appropriations, dictate what
laws will pass and what laws will be
beaten in the election and they will
order the recall of every official from
township road overseer to governor.
The primary law put the newspapers
of Kansas in power and this other new
tangled and highly cOlored legislation
Will make them cars.
Remember, l want to be fair with
the boys. have talked to good many
of them and they say this thing is go
ing too far. L just want to put
bride on, in order that we can stop
if we want to-"
Senator Reed said he had not COM
pleted the construction of his new bill,
but would offer it in one of the early
sessions next week. In the meantime
and while the measure is pending, ap
plicants for desirable newspaper loca-
lions may look toward Kansas.