The Prescott daily news., 1914-06-22
BRIEF ISSUED ON ACT NO. 3 SAYS PEOPLE WILL PROFIT BY
 ITS ADOPTION.
NEWSPAPER MEN BOOST IT
Frankly Admit Their Interest and Tell Why Voters Should Make 1t
 State Law.


 No. 8. known as the Publicity Bill, which will be voted upon under the hi tiative and Referendum at the Septem- Der election. This measure was mi tiated by the Press Association with the signatures of 1892 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 form of an address to the voters of Arkan- sas, and is an exhaustive review Of the provisions of Act No. 3. its needs and benefits as seen by the Arkansas Press Association.
 The brief begins with an admission on the part of the newspaper men of the state of their interest in the bill, but points out that the benefits that will accrue to the state are vast in comparison with the benefits to the press" A thorough and frank discus sion of each section of the bill is given to the public, together with an esu- mate of the cost, but the newspaper men believe that the bill will reduce rather than increase taxes, by elimi- mating graft and extravaganza and putting property on the tax rolls which hitherto has gone urassessed.
 The brief, in part, follows:
 Newspapers Financially Interested.
 The newspaper men Of Arkansas admit their interest in Act No. B. They will profit by it financially. if 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 condemned treschery in matters of legislation, as well as in other official circles. and they have consistently sought to in- form the people accurately on every question of public interest. The origin of, and the motive for. any public proposition, its 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 it's 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 the extent of that interest7
 Act No. 3 provides that all pubN- cations made unCer it shall be made in 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 you want the space.
 People Also Interested
 But while the newspaper men will profit from the operations of Act No. 9. the people of Arkansas will also profit. The benefits that will accrue 10 the State are vast in comparison with the benefits 10 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. was a good in- vestment for Arkansas. the P'ess would be the las. institution in the state to propose and urge 1t upon the people"
 Here the brief indulges in casual review of the history and development Of Arkansas and of the part the 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 Tn discussion of Act No. 3. What Arkansas most needs is free and in- dependent Press and an economical administration of the affairs of state The best way to insure an economical administration of affairs is to rout the grafters through publicity And one of the good ways to make the Press free and independent is for the public to support it Loyalty, so that it will be at no time dependent upon. or tempted to turn to. designing politi- clans and other evil influences for it's