The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-01-08

benefit will flow to the public or the
community through the consumma-
ton of the enterprise. IL Is forgot
ten. or at least discounted, that every
line Of type or space in the newspaper
has q marketable value to the pub
Usher lust as much as the sugar in
the grocers barrel has to the grocer;
that he cannot use it more than once,
and that there are only so many lines
available The idea that an editor is
always hard pressed for copy and vel
comes contributions from any
source and OF any nature calculated
to I'LL up does not represent condi-
lions as they exist Rather the strug
gle is constantly 10 find room for
what has TO go. News Of the newsy
kind is always desired because that
is what readers want, pay for and eX-
meet TO get, and il is the duty of the
publisher to provide it without refer
ence to the desires OF space grafters.
We believe the chief blame for the
avalanche of graft copy that pours
into newspaper Offices rests on the
publishers themselves. If they had
long ago adopted business rules in
respect to it the abuse would have
been ended ere now. But they are
easily tolerant of it. occasionally
Weld TO the pleadings and hlandish-
ments poured upon them, and have
no set principles with regard TO it.
Nor is there any uniformity among
them. one publisher is very free with
his space-perhaps as he is situated
he can afford to be---while others
cannot and consequently are not.
What one charges for another gives
without charge, though perhaps max
ing it up by charging for other things
that the first one gives free 1t is
very common to have some other
paper auoted against one when pub
Usher undertakes to realize a small
amount for the use Of space under
circumstances that clearly warrant
him. So long as this condition pre-
walls 1t win be difficult to discourage
attempts at grating, though no pub
Usher who believes his charge fair
viii Withdraw it because he is told
some other publisher inserts such
things free. But this condition tends
to the continuance of efforts to work
the easy publisher. 1t is human ma
ture not to take kindly to the idea OF
paying for anything that 1t can get
without paying for, however Just the
charge
\ case in point has Just come to
our attention. The very worst space
CRATER that country publishers have
TO contend with, strange enough is
the United States government. The
state Of Vermont, ccunties, towns. VII
lagos, school districts. expect TO pay
and do pay for any publicity given !
them that is advertising rather than
news So far a7 w' can learn the !
United State eV al ind If
publicity ana ao ray thnre IS /
everybody else but he cii.or Is al !
ways advised uncn be receives adj ,
yerdsing notices l,Cm federal officials |
with the request - ti th-t There |
is no appropriation ayailaAlc IN such
cases. a request caro- rcac2tlr 10
the Office OF tint aew,lapec 20 nah
lish suci an advertisement which
was declined and the official so adyiG.
cd and fer what reasons The official
replied. apparently much injured. that
lift efforts to convey information
I'D certain federal taxpayers in this
region could not be realized through
the free use of our columns. and con
taining the implied threat that he
may be Obliged to explain later on
hcw it was that this information did
not reach them" We will assist him
IL he desires. 1t can be explained by
fhe simple statement that when
Uncle Sam is prepared to pay as 9th
ers do for exactly the same kind of
service he will he treated here the
same as they are. And not till. And
'''"
advertising free. So long as depart.