The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-12-25
NO EDITORIAL MILEAGE.

The sound of woe has gone forth.
The wall of editors along the line of
the Louisiana Railway & Navigation
Co. mingles with the fiesta! notes OF
the Christmas season and makes sad
discord. Attenuated pocket-books are
pitifully explored to ascertain II there
will be any pennies left on Jan, l, 1915,
to buy mileage book, or even ticket
to Somewhere Alas and alas, the
chances are slim!
This deplorable state Of affairs fol-
lows a circular letter sent out by the
once-so-o bliging and always generous
E. C. D. Marshall, general passenger
agent of the above-named heretofore
popular-with- Louisiana editors railway
company. In this circular, Mr.. Mar
shall informs disconsolate newspaper
publishers that the company is uncer-
tain of what it will. do sin connection
with exchange of transportation for
advertising during 1916" and in view
of this fact orders it's advertising re-
moved until further orders. This is
but the beginning Of the end. A little
(?) bird had already whispered into
our ears that the L. R. & N proposed
to discontinue with the new year the
issuance of editorial mileage" that is,
transportation in exchange for adver-
Using, following, in this matter, the
bad precedent set by several other
railroads in the state with regard to
tntrastate passes" The shock has
therefore been somewhat mitigated but
the practical effects of the blow remain.
In all seriousness, if the L. r. & N.
should adopt This policy, in common
with most other transportation lines in
Louisiana, it will not only be misfor-
tune to the newspapers enjoying the
roads advertising patronage, but to
! the railway company itself. The l.. r.
& N. will not be able to run as much
and as regular advertising under the
cash system, as it has under the ex-
chance plan No road can or will. Take
the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Rail-
road, for instance, that several years
ago withdrew editorial mileage It's
advertising, except in large towns, has
been distinctly negligible, and in many
cases has notably failed in giving
proper publicity to it's special transpor-
tation features. How much 1t has lost
thereby no one can estimate, as it is
not always possible to follow UP adVer-
Using and ascertain beyond doubt its
scope That road-any road-undoubt-
eddy loses in good will, for although no
newspaper man of probity allows ad-
vertisers to dictate his editorial policy,
there can be no question that he feels
mere kindly to an advertiser than
non-advertiser and serves the interests
of the former whenever he can con-
sistently do So
| On the other hand, the Y. & M. v
railroad, and other railroads, could
have this advertising and good will
without extra cost whatsoever, as the
carriage of passenger and his bag.
gage is not appreciate when regular
trains are run. 1t does not mean either
that the road charging full fare from
| the editor Is ahead on the matter OF
mileage paid out on the other plan
Most editors will not expend an amount
corresponding with his former mileage
account. In most cases they will moi
be able to do so. They will stay al
home, and they and their papers viii
consequently suffer in stagnation Of
business and progressive ideas, sug
gested by travel and seeing the world
outside of the home town.
For these reasons, we hope the
Louisiana Railway & Navigation Com
pany will not adopt policy agains
which so much can be said, and which
most important Of all, will involve the
loss of so much useful publicity. The
move seems unpropitious at this tins
particularly, when Congressional bill
is seeking to remove the embargo from
the interstate pass for editors, payable
in advertising. Editors everywhere art
supporting the BILL because they be
lieve that it is unconstitutional to de
prive them of the right to barter To-
full equivalent their advertising space
Barter is no more open to irregularit!
than cash sale. A man who can b.
bought with pass, can be more easil!
bought with money. and to deprive
honest newspaper and railroad men
for this reason, of the right of barte
is an injustice with no offsetting gain
DR.. Woods Hutchinson, that mos
original of all writer's on medica