The Brinkley argus., 1914-08-21

1 nuany snso one treasury of the people. l from the hands of thieves and plunder- CTS and other unholy channels of no benefit to the state.
 vnnorance VI. Publicity.
 "Ignorancs and darkness make tho path of the plunderer easy and wide. Publicity and enlightenment make the public oficial, who would be crooked in the darkness, tread the straight and marrow 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 affairs. THERE MUST BID PUBLICITY. If they seem disinterested now, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH PUBLICITY. And when the people lose interest in pub lie affairs, taxes increase. plunderers prosper, revolutions rage and anarchy repIaces . peaceful and stable Govern memt
 Publicity is the fountain of eco nomy; 1t is the surest cure for extra vagance. Publicity checks and eventu- ally destroys graft; it preserves unto tho end of time the peace and honor offthe state.
 The Value of It.
 ]; If Act No. 3 is adopted by the peo- ple. the State of Arkansas will save each year from graft and extravagance far more than the expense of publicity. and the state will reap an abundant harvest in the education of her peo- ple, in the enlightenment of those who do the voting, and in the creation of a good. healthy sentiment and a good wholesome interest in public affairs" 1"
 In this connection, the brief points out that the opposed 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- kions at half the legal rate and this is about their customary advertising rate. 1t wasn't a question of graft for the newspapers, the brief points out. but a question of making 1t possible and profitable for the state to furnish the dnformation the people demand. Speak .hng 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 it 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 dor personal or other good reasons. His best advertiser may be involved dn the list of fraudulent tax assess ;ments, and the temptation might be 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 of the matter would not be constructed as breach of personal or business friendship. Newspapers will, however, continue to publish the news, but their reporters are all human and liable to err. It is important in matters official, hn 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- ty or city officials. as the case may be,
 The Free Education of the People.
 "The people of Arkansas have seen Nit 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 liberany provided for by every session of the Legislature. The people approve, be cause they believe in the cause oi education, and they know the state Is reaping abundant returns from this in vestment. Act No. 3 is carrying the same principle a little further. ! provides for the constant education oi the people on their public affairs, Tn which, as tax payers and loyal ciu zens. they are vitally interested. Act !No will cost trifle annually, h comparison with the expense of free schools, yet 1t is doubtful If free schools are very much more i'm lportant to the welfare and future ol the commonwealth than the thorough enlightenment of the people at all times on public affairs. Free educa tion must be maintained.at at any cost in public schools where training for citi zenship. and through publicity in the newspapers for those who have reach ed the age and activities of citizen ship.
 Publicity In Politics.
 "One of the most purifying steps tin politics is the publication of cam paign expenses, advocated by William U. Bryan, and now State and Ma itonal law If publicity Is good fol |s!purifying political campaigns, fol keeping te candidate within the limit Sof honesty and proprioty, why will Il mot be good in governmental affairs for keeping the public official in check and the voter enlightened On the af hairs of state7"
 At this point, the brief goes into the history of newspaper legislation iz .Arkansas to show that the people ol this state have less opportunity. on ac Icount of inadequate publicity laws, tf know what Is going on in the manage lment of their affairs than the people