The Brinkley argus., 1914-07-10


 dualfy into me treasury of the people, from the hands of thieves and plunder- CTS and other unholy channels Of no benefit to the state.
 jonorance vs. Publicity.
 Ignorance and darkness make tne path of the plunderer easy and wide. Publicity and enlightenment make the public oflcial, 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 NEED AND VALUE OF PUBLICITY. If the people are to continue manifest ing an interest in public affalrs, THERE MUST BE PUBLICITY. If they seem disinterested now. THERE ISN'T ENOUGH PUBLICITY. And when the people lose interest in pub lic affairs, taxes increase. plunderers prosper, revolutions rage and anarchy replaces a peaceful and stable Govern ment.
 "Publicity is the fountain of eco nomy; it is the surest cure for extra vagance. Publicity checks and eventu- ally destroys graft; it preserves unto the end of time the peace and honor of the state.
 The Value of lt.
 If Act No. 3 Is adopted by the peo- pie. tho 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 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 question of graft for the newspapers, the brief points out, but a question of making it 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 were 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 thereby enable the fraud to continue whereas, if the law required the publi cation and the editor was properly paid for the service, his publication oi the matter would not be constructed as a breach of personal or business friendship. Newspapers will, however continue to publish the news, but thei1 reporters are all human and liable tc err. It Is important in matters official in which all the people are interested that absolute accuracy be guaranteed and the best assurance Is in official publication, by order of the state, coun l ty or city officials, as the case may be The Free Education of the People. "The people of Arkansas have seen fit to make liberal appropriations every year for the maintenance and upbuilding of her public schools. The country school, the city school, the high school the agricultural schools the state normals, the university and other like institutions are liberaily provided for by every session of the Legislature. The people approve, be cause they believe in the cause o | education, and they know the state is reaping abundant returns from this in vestment Act No. 3 is carrying the same principle little further. Il provides for the constant education o l the people on their public affairs, 1T which, as tax payers and loyal citi zens, they are vitally interested. Ac l No. 3 will cost trifle annually, 1T comparison with the expense of free schools. yet 1t is doubtful If fret schools are very much more i'm l portant to the welfare and future o
 the commonwealth than the thorough
 enlightenment of the people at al l times on public affairs. Free eduea
 ton must be maintained at any cost, 1T
 public schools where training for citi zenship, and through publicity in the | newspapers for those who have reach l ed the age and activities of citizen
 ship.
 1 Publicity In Politics.
 "One of the most purifying steps
 in politics is the publication of cam
 paign expenses, advocated by William
 J. Bryan, and now State and Ma
 tonal law. If publicity is good fol | purifying political campaigns, fol
 keeping te candidate within the limi1
 of honesty and propriety, why will f
 not be good in governmental affairs
 for keeping the public official in checl
 and the voter enlightened on the af
 fairs of state?"
 At this point. the brief goes into thu