The Brinkley argus., 1914-07-24
BIB REDUCTION N
 TAXES PR0k6E0
BRIEF IssUEp ON ACT NO. 3 GAYS PEOPLE WILL PROFIT BY
 ITS ADOPTION.
NEWSPAPER MEN BOOST IT
Frankly Admit Their Interest and Fsil Why Voters Should Mako n
 State Law.

The Publicity Committee of the AT kansas Press Association has just - sued 32-page -briet in behalf or AcL No 3, known as the Publicity bsii' which will be voted upon under ihs sLni- tiative and Referendum at thesSsptams Der election. This measure was .inl- tiated by the Press Association wftn the signatures of l7.s92 voters to the initiative petition, only 13,6oO sigma lures being necessary under the I. q E. Amendment No. 10.
 The brief just issued is in the form of an address to the voters of Afhah- sas. and is an exhaustive review or the provisions of Act No. 5, It's neeas and benefits as seen by the Arkansas Press Association.
 Tho brief begins with an admission on the part of the newspaper men oi tho state of their interest in the DHi. but points out that "the benefits that will accrue to the state are vast ID comparison with the benefits to the press." A thorough and frank discus sion of each section of the bill IS gwen to the public, together with an esti- mate of tho cost, but the newspaper men believe that the bill will reduce rather than increase taxes, by eiiml- hating graft and extravaganza ana putting property on the tax rolls which hitherto has gone unassessed.
 The brief. in part, follows:
 Newspapers Financially Interested.
 "The newspaper men of Arkansas admit their interest in Act No. 5 They will profit by it financially, II 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 50. They have condemned treachery 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. Tho origin of, and the motive for, any public 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 tho extent of that interest?
 Act No. 3 provides that all publi- cations made uncer 1t shall he made in the newspapers. and that the nswspa-. pers shall be paid for this 4seryice. 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 tho space.
 People Alse Interested.
 ''But while the newspaper men will profit from the operations of Act No. |. the people of Arkanaas will oalso. profit. The benefits that will accrue. to the State are vast in compsrison with the benefits to the RrAss. The newspapers will give the state 'valne received They are not asking for. graft. They have proposedzin Act Mo- 3 fair exchange of advertising space for some of the peoples money, a trade. which they believe will be the moat4 profitable investment the state of Ar. kansas ever made. If tue Press did. not believe Act No. 3 was a good in; vestment for Arkansas. the Press would be the last institution in the state to 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 the news papers have played in that progress It also discusses the duty eof the state to it's Press and the duty of the Press to Its state. Further along it says:
 The Press Musts n fErse.
 The Fayetteville Daily said lrecentlys in a discussion of Act No.s3. What Arkansas most needs Is ia free and ain- dependent Press and an eeonomtcals administration of the affairs of state ' The st 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 1t loyalty. SO that it will be at no time dependent upon. or tempted to turn to, designing politi- clans and other evil influences for itr existence.
 But. to be free and independent the Press needs no patronage for which it cannot render value received It asks the state 0 incur no expense that should not be incurred It coun sels the closest economy. and adviser no publicity at public expense that the state should not have, and that It's constituents are not entitled to- It is asking that the state recognize the newspapers by having such publica- tons. as it requires, made in the news papers of Arkansas. sather thaa through other mediums whlcn may take the money out of the state and result in poor service to the people.
 Tn 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 tho information which the people should have, and which the.