Pocahontas star herald., 1914-07-17

through other mediums which may
take the money out OF the state ana
result IN poor service 70 the people
In presenting Act No, !, the news
papers are not asking the state 10
make publications simply to provide
revenue Tor the Press, but they are
asking the state 10 publish In the
newspapers the Information which the
people should have, and which the
people want: information Which often
escapes newspaper comment because
Il Is shielded from ths public for va
rlous and ofttimes mysterious reasons
information which will put the CRATER
10 flight and result IN an enormous
saving TO the taxpayers oi Arkansas
by divertlng thousands Of dollars an
nualIy into the treasury Of the people.
from the hands OF thieves and plumber
srs and other unholy channels OF no
benefit 10 the state.
Ignorance W. Publicity,
Ignorance and darkness make the
path OF the plunderer easy and vide
Publicity and enlightenment make the
public oniclsl, who would be crooked
in the darkness tread the straight and
narrow path OF honesty TO his con
stluents, The paramount Issue In
the consideration OF Act No ) is THE
NEED AND VALUE or PUBLICITY.
N the people are 10 continue manifest
ing an interest Ia public aratrs,
THERE MUST BE PUBLICITY. II
they seem dlslnterested now, THERE
ISN'T ENOUGH PUBLICITY. And
when the people lose interest In pub
lie affairs, taxes increase. plunderers
prosper. revolutions rage and anarchy
replaces a peaceful and stable Govern
ment.
Publicity Il the fountain OF eco
nomy: II Ia the surest cure for extra.
yagance. Publicity checks and eventu.
sliy destroys graft Il preserves unto
the end OF lime the peace aud honor
OF the state.
The Value Of u,
III Act No. 3 Is adopted By the peo
pie. the State OF Arkansas will save
each year from graft aud extravaganza
far more than the expense OF publicity,
and the state will reap an abundant
harvest In the education Of her peo'
pie. In the enlightenment Of those who
do the voting and in the creation Of a
good. healthy sentiment and a good
wholesome interest in public afairs. %
10 this connection. the brief points
out that the prposed laS fixes the rate
Of publication al one-hRlf the legal
rate. Full legal rates are authorized
by the Constitution. and the words
"one-half' could have been easily omit
ted from the bill But the newspapers
could. as fule. handle such publica-
tions at half the legal rate and this is
about their customary advertising rate,
Il wasn't question OF graft for the
newspapers. the brief points out, but
a question OF making Il possible and
profitable for the state TO furnish the
Information the people demand. Speak
ing OF the duty Of the Press 10 such
matters. the brief says:
One OF the very best reasons why
the newspapers should be paid for this
service Ia that Il might be possible for
designing individuals to suppress pub.
locations that we're not ordered and
paid for by the state, county, or city
An editor Is human. and he may have
his friends now and then 10 protect
for personal or other good reasons.
His best advertiser may be involved
in the list OF fraudulent tax assess.
ments, and the temptation might be
strong TO omit mention OF the fact and
thereby enable the fraud 10 continue,
whereas, N the law required the publ
cation and the editor was properly
paid fer the service. his publication OF
the matter would not be constructed
as breach Of personal or business
friendship. Newspapers WILL however
continue 10 publish the news. but their
reporters are all human and liable 10
err. u Is important in matters Official
IN which all the people are interested
that absolute accuracy be guaranteed
and the best assurance is in oiiclal
publication, by order OF the state, coun
~ or city oficlals, as the case may be
The Free Education Of the People.
The people Of Arkansas have seen
M 10 make liberal appropriations
every year for the maintenance and
upbuilding OF her public schools The
country school, the city school. tbs
high school. the agricultural schools
the state normals, the university and
other like institutions are llberally
provided for by every session OF N,
Leg g,slature The people approve. be
cause thcy believe in the cause o.
education. and they know the state Is
reaping abundant returns from this in
yestment. Act No 3 is carrying the
same principle a little further I
provides for the constant education o.
the people on their public affairs. II
which as taN Dayprs and lpyal citi