The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-26


the publisher is able to get business
of all kinds. An editor should always
realize that his greatest obligation is
to his subscriber. His news should
be gathered accordingly When he
gets news his first thought should
be of interesting his pay readers in
stead of the exchange scanners and
the politicians.
McLaughlins Missionary.
Il send out a solicitor to get in
touch with my subscribers for me.
Rather he is the missionary L find
it does not bring good results if a
publisher does his soliciting directly
Too often it is like he is asking for
a personal contribution. OF course, 1
solicit subscriptions, but it is in an
indirect way. 1t always brings re-
sults-and they are what count. My
solicitor goes out and covers each
rural route thoroly. What l pay him
amounts to about IS per cent of his
collections. He has a book for each
rural route and town When he solic-
us ne takes census of route-reportS
now subscribers regard the paper
why some people will not take paper
ana names of others Who simply are
! ihdlffefent and do not care to take
home paper. He brings back written
report on each person
Harvey Oh School News.
p. Casper Harvey, head of the Eng
Hsh department CT the Hays normal
made an address on Journalism
| Without Guidepost" He complained
tnat the schools have no recognized
place IN the Kansas newspapers
No one in the state knows what part
the press plays IN educational prog
resS," he said. BY actual measure
ment of school news in Kansas papers,
SO per cent of Kansas weeklies print
| ed nine inches or less educationa
news per issue. This is estimated
from 205 papers from all parts of the
state. out of an average of 286
| inches of reading matter per issue,
including every possible reference to
educational matters. The editors say
their school news is not satisfactory
and that it should re increased.
William Allen White thinks the
schools should have three times as
much space as me police courts. c.
NJ. Harger fixes the proper amount
of school news at 20 per cent. Many
editors feel that news contributed oy
professors is designed to advertise
them personally and get them better
jobs; that school news is usually of
! pedagogic but not news value. and
that it promotes snobbishness by be-
| ing chiefly about the socially prom
inent.
/ THE remedy suggested is that Jour
nalisin should be taught in the high
schools, classes should be trained IN
giving school news and county super
intendents should be interested enough
J to give news of rural schools. What
We need is stand editorially for pro-
eressive school policies. The unceT-
tainty about the publica ton of school
news. it's furnishing by agents for the
schools. and the criticism made of
what is furnished and is published
| this is journalism without a guide
post. and will be such until concerted
action on the part of editors and edu-
Gators is determined
Seaton on Advertising.
A partisan newspaper should accept
advertising from ell political parties
according to Fay n. Seaton, editor of
the Manhattan Mercury, VINO discuss
ed the question today.
Mr.. Seaton pointed out that a news
paper is quasi common carrier Of
advertising and is under obligations 20
accept all advertising offered which
is not objectionable. Political adver-
Using is not objectiona bic, he said.
and u newspaper owes it to its readers
| to present or permit to be presented
thru its columns all sides of public
questions. if presenting any. BY 60
doing, said Mr.. Seaton. the newspaper
pleases its readers and advertisers of
political faiths different from the
| editors.
That is the fair thing to do he
said, land such fairness strengthens
the editors standing in the community
and the public's confidence in his sin
certify in his own views of political
issues; and that such advertising : a
profitable source of income"
He also pointed out that the criti-
cism that a papers support may be
purchased by means of advertiser ;
thru its columns cannot be applied 20
the papers which accept advertising
from all parties.
Miller Warns Editors.
w. E. Miller, of the St. Marys Star,
ss,
racy." He spoke of the conflict in a
popular government between the fac
tons that seek to keep the country
strictly representative and the faction
that wishes to encourage the trend
toward a more complete democracy
using the press reports as the guide
He said in part:
THE democratic idea enlarges the
field of government into the realms
of industry, finance, transportation
and trade. Thus the newspaper be-
comes vital sphere in our progress
A press that was free to criticize prince
: and peasant alike might have averted
the war in Europe. The people OF
: Europe can not understand the grace
and patriotic content shown by the
losers in an American political cam
paign, because they do not understand
! the stabilizing influence of a free
press which recognizes the finality OF
: the ballot. In Russia and japan the
press is muzzled in times of peace, an6
a critics of American newspaper ac-
/ curacy should talk with a traveller
from the Orient where not even the in
: tention to be right is present. A pure
democracy exists only where there i:
a free press. While the press has
done much that is worthy under thai
freedom. it has done some things thai
indicated a spirit irresponsible, un.
truthful, partisan and bigoted.
Thru the control of the SECOND
class mailing privileges. congress OIL
the postal department proposes Ger.
tain restrictions, such as denying the