The Mena weekly star., 1917-02-01
NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICITY ACT
Arkansas Press Association Declares It Will Make No Effort to Prevent
 Repeal by Legislature of Law
 by the People--Bank Guaranty.

assaults are being made upon Aet No. 3, the Publicity Atf,&khicRswa. initiated and adopted by the peo- pie, not by the Legislature. in t9i3 It was measure proposed and pro- noted by the people who insisted that there should be a, system of effective publicity for business per- taining to the expenditure of the peoples money, and hlsiness vital ly affecting their interests. But there are members of the Legisla- tupe who are fighting it, and the meeting of the Arkansas Press As sociation last week, resulted in the following statement prepared to define definitely the attitude of the press of Arkansas on the subject:
 Tn view of the fact that another bill to repeal Act No. 3, the publi- city measure, has been introduced in the Legislature, and in view of the fact that bill to repeal this measure was defeated in the Legis- lature of 1915, the members of the Arkansas Press Association desire to make this statement to the mem- bers of the Arkansas Legislature and to the people of Arkansas:
 The Publicity bill was initiated and passed by the voters of Arkan- sas by majority of i4,824. The members of the Arkansas Press As sociation know that the theory of the Publicity Act is proper the- ory, and know that publicity is the most potent weapon against petty graft and irregularities in govern ment, but the members of the Press Association resent the attitude of those legislators who would put the publishers of the state in the atti- tude of favoring the Publicity Law merely because it produces reve- nue for the newspapers, and refuse to allow the publishers to be in such attitude.
 The members of this association desire to state most emphatically to the people and to the legislators that the revenue produced by, this law is unimportant to the newspa- pers, and they desire to call to the attention of the people and the leg islators that publications of initiat- ed and referred measures under the Initiative and Referendum Amend ment to the Constitution, cannot be handled by some of the larger news papers of the state, because the rate of pay provided therein is too low to make such publications remuner- ative to such newspapers.
 The Press Association desires to state further that it will make no opposition to any effort to repeal the Publicity Law, which came from the people and not from the legislature. The members of the as- sociation believe a demand will be made by the people of the state for re-enactment of this measure if 1t is repealed. If this demand comes from the people the publishers of Arkansas will demand that the rate of publication be made the full legal rate instead of half-rate as is now provided.
 "'1he Publicity Law has every right to remain in the statutes of Arkansas. It was passed by the peo- pie and the people have seen the benefits of it. But the newspapers of Arkansas will resort to no pussy footing methods to perpetuate the law, and choose rather, to make this plain statement to the General As sembly, relying. Wholly on it's patri- otisIn and Fairness in the matter. The association desires to an- nounce it's intention to publish this statement in every newspaper allied with this association. This publi- cation will be made whether the Act is appealed or not, for the publish CTS deem it wise that the people of the state should know their atti- tude in the matter.
 One of the reasonable certainties of the present Legislative session is the passage of a Bank Guaranty Act Two bills in the House and two in the Senate, introduced at an early stage in the proceedings. in dicate a determination to secure legislation of this character This week a substitute bill will he in- troduced in the Senate by Senator Garrett, which, it is understood, is in the nature of a compromise that has been agreed upon. One of the chief points of difference is the dis position to be made of the guaranty fund One. faction would have 1t retained in the state treasury, the other would have if kept in the banks to the credit of the Bank Guaranty fund. Little Rock bankers Themselves, are divided on the sub ject and two factions have devel- oped among them. Most of the Lit tie Rock bankers are opposed to a bank guaranty of any kind, but otherwise, realizing that some kind of aIguaranty law is a certainty, are endeavoring to secure the best measure possible.
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 Polk County Pioneer Passes On.
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