The Harrison times., 1914-07-18
Publicity an Effective Pdndcea
For Many EuiLs In Public Affairs
Analysis of Act No. by the Helena World.

Inc Helcud NOIlu puDllbiSo wv
following convincing analysis OF the
proposed Publicity Law, Act No. 3;
Frankly this is measure initia
ted by the newspapers OF the State
but this does not In the least detract
from its general excellence nor make
OF It anything less than public ne
cessity. In initiating the measure
the press is actuated by two motives,
the first OF which, to be quite candid
again, is that the newspaper men
need the money. The other reason
is that the measure offers absolutely
the only adequate safeguard-except
certainty OF punishment and that
does not exist,--against the possibil'
ity of official misconduct which mis-
conduct may manifest itself in num-
ber of ways, the most important OF
these being the misapplication OF
public funds and the wrongful use OF
official prerogatives.
There are forces opposing the mea'
sure which may be accepted as aDso
lutely sincere, but the bulk OF oppo'
sitlon comes from sources where sell
fish motives are decidedly present,
The main body OF voters, however II
they are sincere in their demands Tor
official honesty, will support the Pub
licity Act without giving a thought
to the newspapers Of the state the
good It will accomplish in securing
and maintaining official integrity Will
certainly compensate for any real OF
fancied harm which may result BY
reason OF its relation to the newspa'
perB.
VIII Prove an Economical Measure
The argument, already advanced In
certain quarters not necessary 10
mention here, that the act will entail
enormous expense upon the taxpay'
ers is pure bosh. OF verify, 1t Will
cost something; but where is there
law of any sort that has not, and does
not, cost something to enforceY what
ever be the cost, II will be more than
repaid in actual saving from the dis
appearance OF abuses which certainly
exist in many places, and which aSe
said to exist everywhere. These abu'
ses may be the result OF design, or
custom, or Indifference, or accidents
but wherever and however they may
exist, II is safe to assert that they
should not exist. Assuming then, that
abuses do exist, what better method
can be devised for their elimination
and prevention than fair amount OF
wholesome publicity? No honest Off
olal-of which there are plenty IN Ar
kansas-be he patriot or politician,
should have reason to fear publicity
A clean conscience can look the world
straight in the eyes and tell II to so
and do things, but the conscience
which is harrassed by sense Of guilt
prefers always the shady side OF the
road with its safe protection from the
bright rays OF the MONDAY SUM- II
is this kind OF official conscience at
which the Publicity Act Is aimed, and
which II will run out Of business II
the people are wise enough TO vote
for II in September But they must
not be misled by the cry Of News
paper Craft" II they wish TO take
advantage OF the best measure that
has been proposed In Arkansas In
decade or more,
A careful hearing OF both sides will
leave tho conviction that the Orgu.
ments are all In favor Of the meas
ures adoption by the people, The
claim that II contains bad features
has not yet been sustained, although
an effort will certainly be made In
that direction before election day
But back OF all argument, whether for
or against the measure, IL the theory
that men are elevated to public office
because the people have confidence In
them, II this theory IL correct then
II IA only fair that the men 80 eleya'
tod be required to return confidence
for confidence. The people have
right TO know how their business IN
handled and this Information can
bo had only through the right kind Of
publicity. II the office holder isn't
willing TO render correct account.
ing 10 tho people whom ho serves, II
may bo assumed that he has some.
thing 10 hide and the man with some
thing 10 hide will not, by any manner
Of means, make good public official
Publicity Ia the only medium
through which the people may be
kept In touch with the acts Of those
IN charge Of the public business, and
the only adequate meana Of securing
proper publicity IN supplied by the
newspapers OF the State, Most Of
them deserve all the legitimate buBl
ness they can ret and numbers oi
them get far less than they deserve
Legal notices, with which the Public,
ity Act has exclusively TO do, are le,
gitim0te sources OF revenue TO the
newspapers and the statutory law ot
che State has prescribed n charge lin.
II for this class Of advertising beyond
..hlah No u.tua.u ..... IA. 4.