The Prescott daily news., 1914-07-23

1 In presenting Act No. 3, 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 it is shielded from the public for var ious and oftentimes mysterious req sons; information which will put the grafter to flight and result in an enor- nous saving to the taxpayers of Ark ansas by diverting thousands of dol lars annually into the treasury of the people, from the hands of thieves and plunderers and other unholy chan nes 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 Tn the consideration of Act No. is THE NEED AND VALUE OF PUB LICITY. If the people are to con tinue manifesting an interest in pub lie affairs, THERE MUST BE PUB LICITY. If they seem disinterested now, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH PUB LICITY. And when the people lose interest in public affairs, taxes in crease, plunderers prosper, revolution rage and anarchy replaces a peaceful and stable Government.
 Publicity is the fountain of econ- omy; it is the surest cure for extra vagance. Publicity checks and event ually destroys graft: it preserves unto the end of time the peace and honor 1 of the State.
 The Value of It
 If Act No. is adopted by the people 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 people, 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.
 Nothing has been proposed in Act No. 3 merely for the sake of increas- ! ing the patronage of the Press. It does help the newspapers, but at legi- innate rates and for "value received" Later, in an explanation of the fee section of the bill, you will observe that the fees to be paid the news papers under Act No. are fixed at one-haf the legal rate. Full legal rates are authorized by the Constitu- tion of Arkansas, and the words "one- half could have been easily omitted i from the fee section of the bill. But the great majority of newspapers can handle the publications required by Act. Uo. 3 at one-half the legal rate, and they have no disposition to ask the State for more than the customary and avarage rates for mercantile or other kinds of advertising; rates that are figured on the basis of cost and the law of legitimate profit. It was not a question of graft with the newspapers bat question of making it POSSIBLE AND PROFITABLE for the State to furnish the information the people de handed.
 The Duty of the Press
 There are those who contend that the newspapers will and should pub fish all such information as a matter of news. The Press attempts at all times to do it's full duty by the people but the average newspaper can not devote columns of space in each is sue to the public without some recom- pense. It costs money to buy white paper and ink, and to set type, and the State should pay a reasonable price Tor the service it requires. The Press will continue its gratuitous exposition of every proposition in which the pub lie is interested, and more liberally. too, if it understands that its work along this line is appreciated.
 One of the very best reasons why the newspapers should be paid for this service is that it might be possible for designing individuals to suppress pub