The Washington herald., 1914-01-18
CANADA PAID FOR
MISLEADING data
Press Association Head Says
Matter Was Printed in
Country Papers.
DREW MANY AMERICANS
Cortland Smith Tells Senate Lobby
Committee 100000 Persons
Emisrated as Result.
DREW MANY AMERICANS

Cortland Smith. president OF the Ameri-
can Press Association, testifying before
the Senate lobby committee yesterday
charged that the Canadian government,
had been paying for distribution through
out the United States, through the ready
prints of country newspapers. misleading
information as to the advantages OF
Canadian lands to home seekers. and that
as a result there has been a Hood OF
emigration from the United States tc
Canada.
Mr.. Smith was called as a witness al
his own request to testify concerning the
distribution OF plate matter relating tc
the sugar beet industry In the United
States. As the result of his Testimony
the committee decided to summon as q
witness George Joslyn. president Of the
Western Newspaper Union. OF Omaha.
Mr.. Smith indicated that much Of the
mated through the Western Newspaper
Union. He testified that several years
ago he had been approached by repre-
sentatives Of the Dominion of Canada
with q proposal that he undertake the
distribution of this matter through the
American Press Association, for pay, and
that he declined to do IT,
The witness said he had evidence that
he regarded as conclusive hat between
800. 900 and SOC, 900 had been paid the pub
fishers of ready-prints for rural weelIies
to carry matter intended to promote the
development Of Canadian agricultural
lands.
Mr.. Smith estimated that aoo, 900 Ameri-
cans had been induced to cross the
boundary into Canada and take homes
as the result OF this publicity campaign.
The lobby committee was under the i'm
preston that Its work was about over
Up to the time Mr.. Smith made his dis
closure the members had hoped to con-
clude their work within a few days and
prepare to make a report But the
statement has opened up q new field
and members OF the committee admitted
there was no limit in sight to their fu-
ture activities.
Mr.. Smith suggested that there ought
to be a Federal law to require newspa-
pers to accept advertising matter with
out discrimination as between persons
Offering 1t. or as to the rates to be
charged.
That idea suggests that the news
paper is a public utility. and have a
great deal OF sympathy with the view."
said Senator Cummins.
Beet Sugar Campaigs.
Explaining the connection of the Amer
lean Press Association with the cam
patgn for the beet sugar industry in the
United States, Mr.. Smith said his COM
pany had an arrangement with the beet
sugar interests. whose headquarters was
In Washington. to send out to weekly
papers in the United States proof sheets
Of 4 page of matter concerning the grow
ing Of sugar beets, the profits from the
and the value of beet culture
to farms.
About 1.ooo country newspapers ac-
cepted this matter and printed II with
out any expense to themselves. The
sugar industry paid s1.25 for each paper
using the material.
The witness testified that not over 5
per cent of the business of the Ameri-
can Press Association consisted OF send
ing out matter to country publishers
without expense to them, and which the
association was paid for sending out by
those interested in securing the public
ity. He explained that all the political
parties had availed themselves OF the
opportunity afforded to them for such
publicity, and in the campaign of 1912.
the Republican, Democratic and Pro-
gressive parties all paid for this kind OF
publicity.