Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-11
GIVE NEWSPAPERS SQUARE DEAL,

time to think the matter over knows
nat the newspapers of the country are
not at all "stingy' with their space
when it comes to giving free advertis-
ing to any and all worthy causes. In
every community the newspapers pub
lished therein contribute more in the
way of advertising worthy causes than
any other institution.
If a man wants a circular printed he
goes to the job printer to get the work
done. That is the job printers bust
ress. The man who wants the circu-
lar does not ask nor expect to get the
work done for nothing. But in about
nine cases out of ten this same man
will take the same matter to the news
papers of the town and ask them to
Print it in their news columns without
any financial consideration whatever
This is true of all kinds of, what news
papers among themselves call. charity
work.
For instance, if big revival meet
ing is to be held in the town the pro
moters of it will go to the job printer
and get their circulars printed, to be
scattered broadcast over the town.
They paw for the work without hest
fancy. Then they go to the newspa-
pers and ask them to boost the meet
ing" from day to day, without charg-
ing them anything for the work. The
newspapers do so without hesitancy.
/ hey are perfectly willing to do it.
And yet it costs the newspapers jusf
as much to have the matter set and
the paper upon which it is printed
costs just as much, and the ink costs
as much, as they cost the job printer.
This much is said by way of intro-
ducing the subject of the proposed war
tax of 2 per cent. on newspaper adver-
Using, the bill now being in the hands
of the finance committee of the senate
Now the newspapers have no objection
to doing their part; they are perfectly
willing to bear their fair share of the
burden of the war; they do not expect
to escape; they do not wish to es-
cape; but they do believe in fair play
Readers of the daily and weekly pa
pers and the periodicals of the country
know how large a portion of the
SPACE in the newspapers is taken uI
day after day and week after week by
such advertising matter as the gov
eminent sends to them. 1t is true
enough that they do not use all the
matter they receive. They could not
dc so and print anything else. But
they devote a large amount of theil
SPACE to this advertising matter that is
sent to them from the government Of
course, it is not obligatory upon the
newspapers to publish this matter, but
they feel that it is their duty to con
tribute as literally as possible and in
every way they can in aiding the gov.
eminent to get the matters discussed
, before the people.
, The fact should not be overlooke,
that space in newspapers is divided
into two classes. Reading matter, in
Guiding news and editorial, and adver
, Using, including the different classes
thereof. If the newspapers should no
he able to sell goodly portion of theil
advertising space they soon would b.
forced out of business. Advertising il
the chief source of income for tn
. newspaper The publisher of a news
paper does not entertain for momen
he thought that the government shoui,
pay for the large amount of advertis
ing matter it sends out. He views tn,
matter in a patriotic sort of way, fee
ling that it is his duty to do his par
i'll getting these matters before tn
prblie.
And here's a point: Just at thi
time. every newspaper in the countr
is doing everything it can to adver
tise the Liberty Bond sale. In thei
lrewS coIumnc and in their nditoria