The Brinkley argus., 1914-08-14
BIG REDUCTION IN
 TAXES PROMISED
BRIEF ISSuED ON ACT NO. SAYS PEOPLE WILL PROFIT BY
 ITS ADOPTION.
NEWSPAPER MEN BOOST IT
Frankly Admit Their interest anu 'e' Why Voters Should Make 's
 State Law.

sued 32-page brief in behalf of Ac' No. 3. known as the Publicity Bill which will be voted upon under the mi tiatiye and Referendum at the Septem- Der election. This measure was lni- tiated by the Press Association with the signatures of 17,S92 voters to the initiative petition, only 13,600 sigma lures being necessary under the l. @ R. Amendment No. 10.
 The brief just issued is in the 1orm of m address to the voters or ArRan- sas. and Is an exhaustive review oi the provisions of Act No. 3, it's needs and benefits as seen by the Arkansas Press Association.
 The brief begins with an admission on the part of the newspaper men oi the state of their interest in the plll' but points out that "the benefits that will accrue to the state are vast m comnarison with the benefits to the press" A thorough and frank dlscus- sion of each section of the bill is given to the public, together with an est- mate of the cost, but the newspaper men believe that the bill will reduce rather than increase taxes. by eiimi- hating graft and extravaganza ana putting property on the tax rolls wnlcn hitherto has gone unassessed.
 The brief, in part, follows:
 Newspapers Financially Interested.
 "The newspaper men of Arkansas admit their interest in Act No, S They will profit by it financially, 1T adopted by the people. The Arkansas Press Association has no disposition to shield it's interest. Arkansas news papers have always stood for the best interest of the state. and will continue to do so. They have condemneA treachery in matters, of legisrs oh' as we'll as in other sa--eiai circles. ana thar have consistently sought to in. sor,n 4ne people accurately on every .uestion of public interest. The origin of. and the motive for, any public proposition. iN evils or benefits, and any private interests which might be involved. are all matters which the people should know, and the Press of the state is not yet ready to turn from its practice of informing the public fully and accurately Therefore, we come to the people with an open and frank declaration that we. who initia ted Act No. 3, are financially inter- ested in it.
 What Is rne extent of that interest?
 Act No. provides that all publl- cations made unCer it shall be made h the newspapers. and that the newspa- pers shall be paid for this service. In other words, the newspaper men of Arkansas are seeking to sell the state some of their advertising space The purpose of this brief Is to tell you how and why The question for you to decide is whether or not yea want the space.
 People Also Interested.
 But while the newspaper men will profit from the operations of Act No :. the people of Arkansas will also profit The benefits that will accrue to the State are vast in comparison with the benefits to the Press. The newspapers will give the state value received They are not asking for graft. They have proposed in Act No. fair exchange of advertising space for some of the peoples money, a trade which they believe will be the most profitable investment the State of Ar kansas ever made. If the Press did not believe Act No. 3 was a good in vestment for Arkansas. the Press would be the last institution in the state 10 propose and urge 1t upon the people"
 Here the brief indulges in a casual review of the history and development of Arkansas and of the part tho news papers have played in that progress. It also discusses the duty of the state to its Press and the duty of the Press to its state. Further along 1t says:
 The Press Must Be Free.
 The Fayetteville Daily said recently in discussion of Act No. 3. What Arkansas most needs is a free and in dependent Press and an economical administration of the affairs of state The 5 st way to insure an economical administration of affairs Is to rout tho grafters through publicity. And one 0 the good ways to make the Press free and independent is for the public to support 1t Loyalty, so that 1t will be at no time dependent upon. or tempted to turn to. designing polti- clans and other evil iAfluences for it's existence.
 But. to be free and Independent. the Press needs no patronage for which 1t cannot render 'value received It asks the state to incur no expense that should not be incurred. It coun- sells the closest economy, and advises no publicity at public expense that the state should not have, and that its constituents are not entitled to. It is asking that the state recognize the newspapers hy having such publica- tons. as it requires. made in the news papers of Arkansas, rather than through other mediums which may take the money out of the state and result in poor service to the people.
 "In presenting Act No. 8, the news papers are not asking the state to make publications simply to provide revenue for the Press. but they are asking the state to publish in the newspapers the information which the people should have, and which the people want information which often escapes newspaper comment because 1t is shielded from the public for va.