Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-17
Alleged to Be Spending Huge
Sums to Lure Americans
Across Border.
NEWSPAPER UNION HEAD
is TO BE A WITNESS
Misleading Statements Are Said to
Have Been Published in
Patent Insides."

Charges that the Canadian government
mad been paying for the circulation OF
veiled news articles in patented insdes-
newspapers throughout the country to
lure Americans into Canada led the SEN
ate lobby committee today to inaugurate
a new line of investigation. The state
ment of the action of the Canadian gov
ernment was made by Cortland Smith of
New York, president of the American
Newspaper Association. As a result the
committee decided to call to Washington
to testify George Joslyn, president of the
Western Newspaper Union of Omaha,
Neb
Mr.. Smith declared that several
years ago he had been approached By
representatives of the Canadian gov
ernment to circulate similar matter in
column form. He said he refused.
More Than 100000 Year.
Mr.. Smith further said he had posi-
tive knowledge that the Canadian
government paid from 100000 to $500
900 a year to the Western Newspaper
Union for the circulation of matter
veiled as news articles. which mis-
represented conditions in Canada, and
had succeeded in Turing some 100000
fahieiiedHs across the border by this
means.
He explained that the matter was print
ed on the inside of sheets fu nlshed to
small newspapers which filled up the out
side pages with local news
Senator Cummings suggested that the
statement about the Canadian government
being responsible for the articles was
SO startling to him that he wished the
committee would call Mr.. Joslyn Senator
Nelson and Chairman Overman agreed
upon that course.
The hearing of the lobby committee
today was to have been one of the last the
committee was TO have held. The unex-
pected turn today may lead to several
Washington.
Classed as Public Utility.
During Mr.. Smiths testimony lie sug-
gested that the country needed a law
| which would require papers to accept ad-
vertising without discrimination as to the
person offering 1t or as to rates.
1 = "EYidently the witness idea Is that the
newspaper is a public utility and should
| not discriminate. and I have a great deal
OF sympathy with that view." declared
Senator Cummns
Mr. Smith testified that in accordance
with an arrangement with the United
| states beet sugar industry, with head
| quarters in Washington, he sent out 10
weekly papers PROOF SheetS OF a page Oh
matter dealing with the beet sugar in
dustry. About 1850 of these papers ac-
cepted the offer to print this matter
without cost. Mr.. Smith said the beet
sugar people paid him S1.25 for each
paper printing the material.
Used in Political Campaigns.
He testified that about 5 per cent of the
business of his association consisted Of
sending out matter to be printed free OF
cost to the publisher but which was paid
fer by those interested in having it pub
lished. He said that all the political par
ties used this method and that the politi-
cal committees managing the campa ienS
for wilson Roosevelt and Taft in 1872
used it.
rs that regarded as legitimate. in view
lof the fact that there is no label to show
who prepares it," inquired Senator Cum
minis.
Absolutely" responded Mr.. Smith
"Otherwse papers would not iaNt
photographs of the candidates and would
print erroneous statements.
"It is imaginable that the friends OF
candidates might make erroneous state-
ments in preparing matter. too, inter-
rupted Senator Cummins.