Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-04-02
VALUE OF PUBLICATION.

In handing down a decision invali.
dating the election which created the
Port of Coos Bay commission, JUS
tice Moore of the Oregon supreme
court, took occasion to read a lee
ture to the people on the proper
mode of getting public questions be-
fore the people generally. The lower
court of Coos county was reversed
and the election invalidated, owing
to insufficient notice given the vot-
ers. In order to save money, and
tightwad principles that prevail in
many portions of the state, the pro-
moters of the commission caused a
number of notices to be posted on
the fir trees of Coos county rather
than in printing their notices in the
newspapers. In his decision Justice
Moore said, in summing up:
In the pioneer days of Oregon
it was necessary that notices
should have been posted in public
places in order to impart requisite
information of pending elections
and of other matters in which a
party or the public might be inter-
ested. The time has arrived, how
ever, when such notices should be
given by being printed in a news
paper, if one be published in the
county.
by the means suggested great
er publicity would undoubtedly be
given, for but few persons ever
pause to read posted notices, while
nearly everyone reads the local
papers. The absurdity of requiring
$50 election notices to have been
put up is apparent and in case of
a general election failure to COM
ply with the command of the stat
ute would have been immaterial,
but as the election herein was spec
ial and a different result might
have been possible, there is no get
ting away from the determination
to which we have arrived and still
maintain legal principles which
have been solemnly adjudicated. If
however, an easier or more effic-
lent method of imparting the re-
quired information respecting spec
ial elections be desired, the author
ity must be secured from the Leg
islative department"
Justice Moore uttered a well-estab-
lshed truth in the above. The peo-
pie do read the newspapers and the
'urest and most inexpensive way to
get question before the public is
~ patronizing the columns of the
press. AS Justice Moore well said,
nearly everyone reads the local pa
'ers" and notices printed therein are
'ertain to meet the eyes of those in
crested.
Carrying this deduction further.
he value of newspaper advertising
n comparison with handbill public
ty may be shown. There are many
'eople. especially in the smaller COM
nunities. who insist that the proper
ray to reach the public is through
he medium of the handbil and they ,
ften go 20 considerable expense in ,
sing this method Yet not one-third ,
the people read handbills They ,
lay take them from the hand OF the /
istributor but, after a glance. they q
lrow them away and forget all 2
bout it. An instance in point: A I
tizen said to the owner of a the q
ter: Il am sorry didn't know $
lat YOU had such an attraction at i
our house last week, 1 should like d
Fry much to have seen it," To G
hich the theater owner replied:
Why. l advertised il on handbnls 4
] over the city" Il didn't see it," "
i'd the citizen. for never read $
Iese handbils; why don't YOU ad- o
'rtise in the newspapers "oh. a
at costs too much" returned the In
shtwad manager. and there the II
after ended. This alleged business n
an was too shortslghted to under e,
and what prosperous managers .,
We long ago discovered. that news m
per publicity is the only true way r,
reach the people and interest n
em. The poster may be necessary n
an adjunct 70 the newspaper. but q
, latter should be first considered. er
All ordinances and city notices Al
It concern the public at large HI
'uld be published in the newEpa- N
. That is the only manner in OF
ich the public may be Informed ev
new laws and. II the laws are 60
de to be enforced. their texts ar
.uld Be common property The CO
ting of newly enacted ordinances tn
the sides Of buildings and trees Rs
! poor way 10 give them publicity. tn,