The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-02

NEhG ~ M17B


Lidgerwood Monitor: G. A. John
son OF Miaot, who was twice nonli~
mated for governor in this state BY
the republicans and twice defeated by
Governor Burke, is being grooned for
the third race for the same position
and will be a direct opponent OF Con
gresham Hanna. That would mean
q split in the stalwart vote that might
permit Buchanan to land the nomina-
ton But 1t is difficult to see why
his friends should advise or permit
him to go into the field after his two
defeats and face another for he stands
no better chance this year than he did
four years ago.. The progressive ele-
nlent in the republican party would
not accept him any more graciously
this year than they did on the two
former campaigns.
Linton Record: Political announce
ments have begun to appear In the
newspapers OF the state, and The
Record having received several in
quiries as to the price of such an
nouncements for the coming campaign,
we wish to state that a law passed at
the last session of the legislature gov
ems all political advertising. Under
the provisions of the statue to which
reference is made, regular legal rates,
and no more, can be charged for such
advertising. These rates are Z cents
per line for the first insertion and
Z cents per line for each subsequent
insertion. AS neither the candidates
nor the publisher can figure out the
exact number of printed lines the
manuscript of an announcement
Will make it can only be es-
timated. The Record has, therefore,
adopted the following described plan
which will enable the publisher to coll
lect Tor his work Just what the law al
W and no more: When copy is
furnished to The Record for a politi-
cal announcement, the cash-in-ad-
vance sum of SO will be collected the
same as heretofore, Immediately aft
er the last publication before the pri-
mary election, a statement of the to-
tai charge for the advertisement will
be made out and furnished to the can
dtdate. If it amounts to more than
80 the candidate will be so informed
IN the statement. If less than SO, the
alnerence between the total legal
charge M the $40 will be returned to
the candidate. A candidate can count
his lines and determine just where he
stands as to publication expenses.
Another thing that candidates should
note is this: No political advertise
ment for which payment is made can
be published in a newspaper unless the
same is labeled paid advertisement, "
or words conveying the same meaning.
FOLLOWING is the text of Sec. Is of the
corrupt-practices act, which governs
the subject of political advertising:
NO publisher of a newspaper or
other periodical shall insert, either in
It's advertising or reading columns,
any paid matter, which is designed or
tends to aid, injure or defeat any can
didate or political party, organization
or measure before the people. unless
it is stated therein that it is a paid
advertisement. No person shall pay
the owner. editor. publisher or agent
OF any newspaper or other periodical
TO induce him to editorially advocate
or oppose any candidate for nomina-
ton or election, and no such owner,
editor, publisher or agent shall accept
such payment. Amy person who shall
any of the provisions of this
shall be punished as for a cor
rupt practice"
1t will thus be seen that the pub
Usher who receives, and the candi-
date or other person for him who paws
for, political advertising not so marked
IN the paper are subject to the penal
ties OF h new law, such penalty Cpre-
scribed in Sec. II of the corrupt-prac-
act) being as follows:
ANY person who violates any OF the
OF this act, the punishment
for which is not specially provided by
shall on conviction thereof, be
punished by imprisonment in the coun-
ty jail for not more than six months,
by a fine of not more than $1,000.
by both such fine and imprison-
1t will thus be seen thai, if there are
newspaper publishers in the state who
have been in the habit Of bIackmail-
ing candidates by demanding money
Tor the purpose of securing the pub
ication of original articles in sup
port Of certain candidates, or to pre-
vent editorial attacks on certain
candidates. such publishers viii here
do this class Of dirty work with
The knowledge that a stiff penalty
'tares them in the face in case of dis
sovery. and, in the intense rivalry Of
: political campaign 1t is more than
likely that the facts regarding such
Violations of the law viii be found out.