The Brinkley argus., 1914-06-26
BRIEF ISSUED ON ACT NO. 3 SAYS PEOPLE WILL PROFIT BY
 IT'S ADOPTION.
NEWSPAPER MEN BOOST IT
ErankIv Admit gThslr Interest and Yell Why Voters Should Make N
 State Law.

| NO. $, KnOWH aS 'ho
 which will be voted upon under the ini- tiative and Referendum at the Septem- Der election. This measure was lni- tiated by the Press Association with the signatures of 17,S92 voters to the initiative petition, only 13.6oo signa- lures being necessary under the !. R. Amendment No. TO-
 The brief just issued is in the form | of an address to the voters of ArKan- sas. and is an exhaustive review or the provisions of Act No. 3, It's needs and benefits as seen by the Arkansas Press Association.
 The brief begins with an admission on the part of the newspaper men or the state of their interest in the Dill. 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 Tdtu6T tudu lACi C0oO s0ASos " SeA>->- mating graft and extravagance and putting property on the tax rolls which hitherto has gone unassessed.
 The brief, in part, follows:
 Newspaper Financially Interested.
 The newspaper men of Arkansas admit their interest in Act No. 5. They will profit by 1t 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 treachery in matters of legislation, as we'll as in other official circles. and they have consistently sought to in form the peor'o accurately on every quest.~~a of public interest. The origin or, 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 tno extent of that interest?
 Act No. 3 provides that all publi- cations made unCsr 1t 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. 3, the people of Arkansas will also profit The benefitstthat will accrue to~the State are vast in comparison with the benefits to the Press The newspapers will give the state value received They are not asking for graft. They have proposed in Act No 3 fair exchange of advertising space for some of the peoples money, 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. 3 was 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 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 It's Press and the duty of the Press to its state. Further along it says:
 The Prose Must Be Free.
 The Fayetteville Daily said recently In a discussion of Act No 5. 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 10 to rout tho grafters through publicity. And ore of the good ways to make the Press free and independent is for the public to support 1t Loyalty. so that 1t will be at TO time dependent upon. or tempted to turn to, designing politi- clans and other evil-influences for its existence
 But. to be free and independent, the Press needs no patronage for which it cannot render value received It asks the state to incur no expense that should not be incurred. It coun- sels the closest economy, and advises no publicity at public expense that the state should not have. and that its constituents are not entitled to. It is asking that the state recognize the newspapers by having such publica- tions. as it requires, made in the news papers of Arkansas, rather thsa through other mediums which 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 the information which the people should have. and which the | people want; information which often escapes newspaper comment because 1t Is shielded from the public for va | riOus and ofttimes mysterioug reaGons.