Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-09-19

WEST VIRGINIA newspapers nave Deen
in the midst OF sensation the past week
or two that is extremely painful to many
of them, while il tickles others half to
death. II will be recalled that some
months ago one c. L. Trevis wrote from
Washington to the newspapers OF this
State offering thousand dollars or more
for editorial space desired by the liquor
interests to fight the prohibition amend
ment. The bride was so enticing, appa-
rently, that most of the newspapers fell
for il and made favorable response or
sent out feelers indicating that they were
open to further negotiations.
Recently Golfers Weekly made an in
vestigation of this affair. II finds that
the moving spirit in the operation was
VIM. E. Johnson, press secretary OF the
General ASsembly's Permanent Com
mittee on Temperance of The Presbyterian
Church in the United States" OF Pitts
burg. Mr.. Johnson seems to have sent
out the letters in the name OF Trevis, his
brother in-law, in order to find out what
newspapers were willing TO sell their
editorial influence to the whiskey people,
and il is evident that he was soon able to
separate the sheep from the goats.
Golfers managed to get hold OF all the
correspondence, and in a recent issue
published anumber ofthe letters. Where
fore those who were caught in the trap
are mighty sore. Out of seventy letters,
only ten unequivocally refused space for
advocacy of the whiskey peoples inter
ests-the others eagerly aSsented ortem-
porized or held out for further negotia-
tons.
The proprietor of the Logan Banner
wired acceptance of 5000 worth of this
business and offered to influence other
newspapers also.
The publisher OF the Putnam Democrat
accepted right away, saying that he was
hard up and would like to have small
check, "the sooner the better"
The Keyser Tribune offered to sell out
entirely for $1,000, and Trevitt could run
il to suit himself.
The publisher of the Wetzel Tribune
offered to give editorial matter for 10
cents line. For $1,000, of which $500
should be paid in advance, he offered to
make three newspapers wet and to
continue to run them "wet' after the cleo
ton.
For $1,000 the editor OF the Piedmont
Independent offered four columns on the
first page and editorial matter to help win
a victory.
The publisher of the Winfield Herald
took the bait, hook, line and all. For
81 200 he was willing to make contract,
and promised to make a winning fight, as
he had never yet lost out in campaign.
He said that he had the county committee
with him and would name the chairman
and the election officers, and have three
workers at each polling place. He after
ward got alarmed at having written so
freely and begged for the return OF his
letters, but he had been landed.
1.-The saloons and distilleries and brew
cries of West Virginia have not money
enough to buy one inch of space to adj
vertise their nefarious business" wrote
the publisher OF the Mason Republican,
of Point Pleasant, to TreviS.
al would not let you have space for
such wicked and degrading purpose If
you offered ten times this amount" was
the reply of the editor OF the Shepherds
town Register to the Travis letter.
81 cannot consistently sell my space to
the whiskey interests. wrote the publisher
of the Tucker Democrat.