Evening journal., 1914-02-18
FORCE A sHOM.nnMNi

THUS far the Every Evening has not accepted our
i challenge TO make to a committee of prominent
Wilmington merchants showdown Of its circulation
books Its white paper accounts and its list Of free
papers.
We regret that this is so. It was our hope that
long ere this such committee would be at work on
the books Of the Every Evening and those OF THE
EVENING JOURNAL for the period from December
81, 1912. up the present time and that within few
days each newspaper would devote half page OF
space to the publication Of the report Of the COM
mittee
What is the matter with the Every Evening? Is it
afraid TO submit to the test? It looks very much
Ike it.
representative Of that paper has said that THE
EVENING JOURNAL gives half OF its circulation
away. Other underground methods have been resorted
10 by h IL effort get advertising itself TO
keep II from coming to u.s.
We insist that It come to tho from, and make
showdown IT'S circulation; that II make g. show
down on the free papers it has distributed day
from December 81 1912, 10 date and that the facts
and figures submitted by It to the committee Of mer-
chants be supported by duly affidavit made
by aome responsible person connected with
paper who knows the nature Of an OATH
THE EVENING JOURNAL stands ready at any min
ute TO place IN the possession of such committee OF
merchants advertisers everything connected with
It's circulation; to submit with il an affidavit as to
the truth and accuracy OF the information thus given
aud to give TO it, for presentation to some worthy
charity 5000 in gold il the record does not show that
our average daily paid circulation exceeds that
Every Evening by between 1000 and 5000
We think the Mercantile Section of the Cham
ber Of Commerce should take this important matter
up and insist that the Every Evening accept the chal-
lenge Of THE EVENING JOURNAL on the ground
that an advertiser has right know what circula-
tion he is getting for the money pays for adver-
Using.
We invite the Mercantile Section Of the Chamber of
Commerce to appoint such a committee 20 go to both
newspapers and demand sworn circulation facts as
outlined in challenge published last Monday week
aud thus far unaocepted
We also invite the Mercantile Section of the Cham.
Der of Commerce TO instruct its committee to demand
that the Every Evening and THE EVENING JOURNAL.
throw open their individual advertising accounts to
free and ful inspection tho ascertanment OF these
hghb-mportant facts:
First--Whether either paper is giving preferential
rates 20 any advertiser or advertisers In the local
commercial field. TO the detriment Of other local ad
vertisers
second-Whether either paper is giving lower rates
to Philadelphia and other outside advertisers than II
is giving to Wilmington advertisers especially the local
merchants.
Third-That the committee insist that each newspa-
per shall give. free OF charge half-page of pace to
the publication OF the commtiees report on that phase
OF the situation.
THE EVENING JOURNAL agrees in advance TO such
an investigation and publication All the committee
need do. niiay, is to conhne itself to the work OF
compelling the Every Evening to make such a show
down.