Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-11
"The Best of the Bargain"
The Yorkyille ENQUIRER SAYS:

Inc 1OTkVlue enquirer Styo.
The Newberry Observer is persist
emily harping on the practice Of news
papers in taking transportation from
the railroad companies in exchange for
advertising. We have not had any
thing to say on the subject heretofore;
but we are going to say this. We have
been and are giving railroad advertis-
Ing in exchange for transportation, and
we see no moral wrong in 1t. We feel,
however, and in fact we know, that
the railroad people get very much the
best of the bargain, and that from a
business standpoint, we as well as oth-
er papers that follow this arrange
ment, are pursuing very poor policy.
The newspaper people should charge
the railroad people regular prices for
roads regular prices for transportation.
That would be more satisfactory and
better business all round. But there is
no just blame to attach against the
railroads in this matter. II newspa-
pers are getting the worst of this ar
rangement, as they certainly are, they
have only themselves to blame"
The Enquirer is not altogether cor
rect In saying the Observer rs persist
emily harping" on the practice refer
red to. In fact the Observer seldom
mentions It; but when 1t does mention
1t, it is in no uncertain terms.
And the Observer has not charged
any moral wrong in the use Of free
passes, or, as The Enquirer expresses
it, exchanging transportation for ad-
vertising. That is a question we have
expressed no opinion about. Let others
Judge for themselves. We say it is bad
policy. We say it puts the editors un-
der obligations to railroads, and to
some extent under their domination;
to this extent, at least, that the news
papers are compelled to submit to the
railroads plan Of "advertising;" to ac-
cept free passes" as pay, II that Is
pay, or else the roads will not do busi-
ness with them. Let any newspaper
try 1t, and 1t will find that not line
of advertising will it get from the
roads
Is this not dictation by the roads? If
not, what is 1t?
They will not even keep accounts
with newspapers and give them mile
age at mileage rates for SO much OF
advertising at advertising rates; but a
newspaper editor must accept Its pass
as full payment, whether his riding is
worth fifty dollars or a thousand and
| whether the advertising for the road is
much or little.
1t is certainly not on business ba-
sis. Then what Is the basis? Why do
railroads give editors free passes
That they do give free passes cannot
be denied They are all free" In some
sense; some of them are absolutely
free in every sense. The Enquirer is
probably aware of the fact that rail-
roads give free transportation to all
editors who wish it and ask for 1t to
their annual meetings-even to those
who do not carry passes on these roads
print a line Of advertising for the
| roads.
The Enquirer says ''the railroad peo-
pie get very much the best Of the bar
gain" Perhaps they do. They would
not likely continue this system Of 'ad-
vertising" If they didn't. But how do
| they get "the best" of 1t? That is the
important question. And If they get
"the best" of it, why do the newspa-
pers submit to it? Do they permit
other corporations, or individuals, to
"get the best of the bargain with
them? Not so that you could notice
| It,"
We are not disputing The Enquirer's
| best of the bargain; but, as a matter
Of curiosity, we would like to see bal
ance struck in some cases Of newspa-
per passes and newspaper advertising
Isn't it strange that the newspapers
should continue a system Of "advertis-
ing" by which they permit the rail-
roads to dictate absolutely the terms
and say, Take this or nothing?
| What subtle influence do the rail-
roads possess that enables them to
dominate the newspapers TO the extent
of making them accept contracts in
which newspapers get the worst OF
'the argain?"-Newberry Observer.
1t does not appear that we are in
very serious disagreement with the
| Observer on this question, and If our
friend objects to the "persistently
harping' phrase, it is hereby with
drawn.
If the Observer sees no moral
wrong" then Of course there is moth
ing left to quarrel about, except the