The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-11-07
NONPARTlsAN URaEs 95s
STATE PAPER MILL
President Townley Asserts This Do.
nand Will Be Included IN
League Platform. /. 5s

That the National Nonpartisan
league probably will incorporate a
plank in it's Minnesota platform de-
claring for state-owned pulp mill
to supply print paper to country
publishers at cost was announced TO-
day by President A. c. Townley. His
announcement has thA hearty sup
port of several members of the state
Committee and it is believed the
suggestion will be Endorsed by the
delegates at the state convention to
be held before the primary election
next June. ~.
"The hope of American democracy,
industrial as we'll as political, to a
great degree depends upon the hon
est and independent newspapers, -
Mr.. Townley said. Unfortunately,
most Of the metropolitan Snewspa-
pers have been thoroughly prosti-
tuted by big Business. The only in
dependence-found in the American
press today, with a few notable ex-
ceptions, is found among the coun-
try newspapers and labor pub1ica-
tions
But there is grave danger that
these very newspapers will be crush
ed out of existence by the rapidly
increasing cost of print paper. The
country publisher now is paying
from five to seven cents a pound for
print paper which he could buy for
two cents pound less than three
years ago. The Paper Trusts. greed
is making business almost prohibit
tive for many of the smaller pub
fishers. l understand that more
than 1000 country papers failed in
America last year and in many cases
the high cost of paper was the cause.
1.-The Paper Trust practically has
defied the government to reduce it's
rates to reasonable basis. 1t gives
preferred rates to the big city pub
fishers, who are getting their paper
at cost far below that paid by the
city papers also either own or are
interested in pulp mills. Naturally
country publisher Many of the big
these papers will not advocate gov
eminent control when it hits their
pocket books and when the present
situation gives them an arbitrary
and unfair advantage over the coun-
try newspaper.
Minnesota has wood pulp-much
OF 1t on state owned land-and wa
ter power and 1 see no reason why
the state cannot manufacture print
paper and sell it at cost far below
that which the country publishers
are now paying. Of course the Pa
per Trust and it's organs will 'holler'
but l cannot see why natural re-
sources of this state now lying idle
should not be utilized by the state
to the advantage Of the country pub
Usher and others.
In any event the National Non
partisan League state convention
will be asked to include a plank for
state-owned wood pulp mill in it's
platform and when our candidates
are elected we will pledge them to
enact this measure into law along
with the rest Of our program.
ssIho hiu div, Jo;1;o, 49,
at present prices because of the tre-
mendous amount of advertising thew
carry at high rates. 1t is more
difficult problem for the country
publisher. He has hard work to ex-
ist at the best, for he is not subsi-
died by special interests or reward
ed with page advertisements for be-
ing> good. Most OF the city papers
are thoroughly prostituted by Big
Businessman most of the country
papers are honest, even though at
times they may be mistaken. The
country editor is not isolated in {,
lofty skyscraper and does not con-
fine his acquaintanceship to men,
bers of exclusive clubs. He is close
to the people, he works hard him.
self, and he usually has sympathy
with the man who tolls. On the
whole, the country editor is more
honest, more independent, more pa
triotic and has far more intelli-
gent conception of what American
democracy should be than has the
conceited, subservient corporation
tools who usually are chosen to edit
metropolitan papers.
UNFORTUNATELY the present price
OF paper hits hardest the very class
OF country editors that we need to
preserve as important factors of de-
mocracy', concluded Mr. Townlev.
If the National Nonpartisan league
can assist the country papers by
undertaking the Paper Trust with
a state-owned pulp mill we feel that
we will be perf0rnoinor no+r;o+;o