Sharp County record., 1914-07-03

through other mediums which may
take the money out OF the state and
result in poor service u he people
IN presenting Ac, No g. the news
papers are not asking the state to
make publications simply to provNe
revenue for the Press, but they are
asking the state 10 publish n the
newspapers the information which the
people should have, and which the
people want; information which often
escapes newspaper comment because
It is shielded from the public for va
| riOus and 0fttimes mysterious reasons,
information which will put the CRATER
to flight and result in an enormous
saving to the taxpayers Of Arkansas
by diverting thousands Of dollars an
| nually into the treasury Of the people,
from the hands Of thieves and plunder-
ers and other unholy channels Of no
benefit to the state.
Ignorance vs.. Publicity.
Ignorance and darkness make the
path of the plunderer easy and wide.
Publicity and enlightenment make the
public official, who would be crooked
in the darkness, tread the straight and
narrow path of honesty TO his con-
stituents. The paramount issue in
the consideration of Act No 3 is THE
NTr7r7r AMT, Y Z III on ET-IT TTTT"v
II the people are TO continue manifest
ing an interest in public affairs,
THERE MUST BE PUBLICITY. II
! they seem disinterested now, THERE
ISN'T ENOUGH PUBLICITY. And
when the people lose interest in pub
rc affairs, taxes increase, plunderers
prosper, revolutions rage and anarchy
replaces a peaceful and stable Govern
ment.
Publicity Is the toun tain OF eco-
nomy, it is the surest cure for extra
vagance. Publicity checks and eyautu-
ally destroys graft it preserves unto
the end of time the peace and honor
of the state
The Value Of Il.
"Tf Act No. Is adopted by the peo-
pie, the State of Arkansas will save
each year from graft and 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
good. healthy sentiment and a good
wholesome interest in public affairs
In this connection, the brief points
out that the prposed law fixes the rate
of publication at one-half 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 a rule, handle such publica-
tions at half the legal rate and this Is
about their customary Advertising rate
It wasn't a 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 IN such
matters, the brief says
one Of the very best reasons why
the newspapers should be paid for this
service is that 1t might be- possible for
designing individuals to suppress pub
lications 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 to 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
hereby enable the fraud to continue,
whereas, II the law required the publ
cation and the editor was properly
DaId for the service, his publication Of
the matter would not be constructed
- breach Of personal or business
friendship Newspapers will, however
continue 10 publish the news, but their
rr0ortors are all human and liable 10
err n Ia important In matters otftcial
IN which All the people are Interested,
thNt ahaoute accuracy be guaranteed
md ne best assurance Ia In of4cal
publication, BY order Of the state, coun
Nv or city officials, az 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
unhullting Of her public schools The
country school the city school tNe
1.gh school the agricultural schools
Ma state normals, the university and
other Ike institutions are literally
provided for by every session Of the
te'shtura The PEOPLE approve be
,ouee fhev believe in the cause Of
,dneatIon. and they know the state IL
rarIng nhundnnt returns from this In
ue7marr Act No Il carrying the
,ma principle ltha further II
r6r'das FOR the constant education Of
~, people on their public affairs In
h'eh. az tax payers and loyal citi
,Grr they are vitallv Interested Act
E5 3 viii cost 4 trIfe annually, In