The Forrest City times., 1914-07-17

following convincing analysis or the proposed Publicity Law, Act No 3:
 Frankly. this is a measure initia. ted by the newspapers of the State, but this does not in the least detract from it's general excellence nor make of it anything less than a public ne eessity. In initiating the measure the press is actuated by two motives, the first of which. 10 be quite candid again is that the newspaper men need the money. The other reason is that the measure offers absolutely the only adequate safeguard-except certainty Of punishment. and that does not exist.-against the possibil- fly Of official misconduct. which mis conduct may manifest itself in a mum Der Of ways. the most important of these being the misapplication of public funds and the wrongful use of official prerogatiyes.
 There are forces opposing the mea- sure which may be accepted as abso iutely sincere. but the bulk of oppo sition comes from sources where sal fish motives are decidedly present The main body Of voters, however. if they are sincere in their demands for official honesty. will support the Pub licitY Act without giviHg a thought Co the newspapers of the state. The good tt Will accomplish in securing and maintaining official integrity will certainly compensate for any real or fancied harm which may result by reason Of it's relation 10 the newspa. pers.
 Will Prove an Economical Measure.
 The argument. already advanced in certain quarters not necessary 10 mention here. that the act will entail enormous expense upon the taxpay- ers Is pure besh. Of verity. it will cost something but where Is there a law Of any sort that has not, and does not, cost something 10 enforce? What ever he the cost. it will be more than repah Tn actual saving from the dis appearance of abuses which certainly exist in many places. and which a.e said to exist everywhere. These abu- ses may be the result of design or custom. or indifference. or accident; but wherever and however they may exist. it Is safe to assert that they should not exist Assuming then, that abuses do exist. what better method can be devised for their elimination and prevention than fair amount of wholesome publicity No honest off cial-of which there are plenty in Ar kansas be he patriot or politician. should have reason to fear publicity 4 clean conscience can look the world straight tn the eyes and tell it to go and do things. but the conscience which Is harrassed by a sense of guilt prefers always the shady side of the road with its safe protection from the bright rays Of the monday sun T. is this kind of official conscience at which the Publicity Act is aimed and which it vill run out of business if the people are wise enough Co vote for it m September But they must not be mlsled by the cry Of News paper Craft" if they wish to take advantage of the best measure that has been proposed in Arkansas in a decade or more
 X careful hearing ot both sides will leave the conviction that the argu- ments are all in favor of the meas, ures adoption tv the people The claim that it contains had features has not yet been sustained, although an effort will certainly he made in that direction before election day But back of an argument. whether for or against the measure. is the theory that men are elevated tu public office because thc peorl, have confidence iu them lf this theory ts correct then it is only iair that Ca, men sp eIeea ted te required Co return confidence for confidence. The people have d right 70 know bow their business is handled and this information can be had only tbrourh fho right kind o' publicity lf tlr office holder isn't willing to r,nd,r correct account iNN N' 'ft E..|..' " .....l |'N Hf|Nf.ts .- may be assumed Ult he has some thing to hide and Ite man Vi,h eomc thing to hide Val not. Ky au, mauuel of means make a good uubHc official
 Publicity R the only medium through which the people may bs kept m touch with the aets of fhose in charge of the public business. and the only adequate m,ans of secarue proper publicity s supplied by th, newspapers of the State Most oi them deserve all the legitimate bust ness they cau get and number. ot them get far less than ttas des,rre Legal notices with N7irh tho Public ity Act has exclusively to do. are le giumate sources o' rt,ena. to tht newspapers. ana Che statutory law o' the state has prescribed eaafra Hm t fer this class Of advertising beyond which no newspaper may eo Feu o' them but have adopted s,aI. of lrea prices considerably lower thn tnas. permitted by law. and Ca the case oi