Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-11-28
experimental and expensive. Getting
subscriptions is an easy proposition.
but holding subscribers IL the real

experimental ana expensive. ,Gott1n8
subscriptions Is an easy proposition.
but holding subscribers is the real
problem. F-..
II have reached the conclusion thst
there is one practical way to hold sub
scribers and that Is to. create a public
demand for your newspaper. There
WIS q time when the personality Of
the editor was the chief asset for the
newspaper in building and extending
It's circulation, but that time haa
passed. We young men cannot build
our papers with the same kind Of ma
terial with which Mr.. Fortune built
the Age or Mr.. Perry built the Trib-
une. The American people want news
drst and opinion last. You will find
three-fourths Of your average readers
more interested in the news column
than In the editorial
II do not wish to discount the value
of the editorial page as circulation
builder, for few newspapers in the age
Of new mania attain more than local
reputation unless they maintain
strong and forceful editorial page.
Every Negro newspaper Is regarded as
a special pleader at the bar Of public
opinion. We are the delegated cham
pions Of an oppressed race. The aver.
age newspaper. whether published In
the city or town, must depend upon Its
local advertising patronage for main
tenance. It is essential, therefore. that
we build up and maintain large local
circulation. hold that the most prac-
teal way to get this Is to place special
emphasis upon local news"
The advantages of reciprocal news
service was discussed by Mr.. James
III. Anderson, editor Of the Amsterdam
News, New York city. His views on
the subject were practical and showed
that he had given much study to the
subject Others assigned to this sub
ject were James A. Ross of Detroit.
Mich. and Fl. NJ. Chilean Of Denison.
Tex. "The Press and Public Opinion"
was the subject Of an able address de-
livered on Monday night by T. Thomas
Fortune. Mr.. John G. Dancy, secretary
Of the A. NJ. E. Zion Church Extension.
opened the discussion following Mr..
Fortunes address.
The first subject discussed Tuesday
morning was "Plate Service For Week.
ly Newspapers" The speaker was N.
B. Dodson. editor Of the Afro-American
page of the American Press Associa-
ton. New York. Mr.. Dodson gave an
interesting story Of the service, how It
was founded. how operated and the
great good which had been accomplish
ed on account Of its economic value to
editors. The discussion of this subject
engaged the attention of the conven-
ton for over an hour. The service was
highly commended, not only by news
paper men. but by the clergy, business
and professional men. It was indofssd
by the executive committee, and each
editor was requested to use the service
as regularly Us possible.
Paying Advertisements and How to
Get Them" was discussed by Hunter
G. Haynes, New York; G. Grant Will
liams, Philadelphia; ]. Finley Wilson.
Baltimore: r. Thomas Harrison, Cam
bridge, Mass. Among the ladies' who
took part in the various discussions
were Miss Annie May Vann, head of
the subscription department of the
Journal and Guide, Norfolk; Mrs. M.
G. Kinner of the St, Louis Advance
and Mrs. e. Pearl Delsarte Of New
York.
The election of officers resulted as
follows: President, John II. Murphy.
editor of the Afro-American Ledger.
Baltimore; first vice president, Jo-
seph l.. Jones. editor Pythian Monitor.
Cincinnati; second vice president, Rev.
S. ]. Jones. Philadelphia; correspond:
ing secretary, Henry Allan Boyd,
Nashville. Tenn; recording secretary.
w. H. Craighead. editor of the Advo-
cate-Verdict. Harrisburg. Pa; assist,
ant recording secretary. Mrs. NJ. G.
Kinner, st. Louis, Mo-; treasurer. DR..
L. G.. Jordan, Philadelphia; chairman
Of the executive committee, N. B. bod.
son, New York.