The Prescott daily news., 1917-01-29
THEORY OF PUBLICITY
 AC? IS PROPER
Is Potent Weapon Against Graft and Irregularities in Govern ment-Press Assn Make no Effort Defeat Bill to Repeal.
By Clio Harper.

ny ShO aaN' PN''
 Little Rock, Jan. 30.-The usual as saults are being made upon Act No. 3 the Publicity Act, which was initiated and adopted by the people, not by the Legislature. in 1913. It was meas ure proposed and promoted by the people who insisted that there should be a system of effective publicity for matters pertaining to the expenditure of the peoples money, and business vitally affecting their interests. But there are members of the Legislature who are fighting it, and the meeting of the Arkansas Press Association last week the following statement was prepared to define definitely the atti- tude of the press of Arkansas on the subject.
 In view of the fact that another bill to repeal Act No. 3, the publicity measure has been introduced in the Legislature, and in view of the fact that a bill to repeal this measure was defeated in the legislature of 1915 the members of the Arkansas Press Association desire to make this state ment to the members of the Arkansas legislature and to the people of Ar kansas:
 The publicity bill was initiated and passed by the voters of Arkansas by majority of 14,S24. The members of the Arkansas Press Association know that the theory of the publicity act is a proper theory, and know that publicity is the most potent weapon against petty graft and irregularities in government, but the members of the Press Association resent the atti- tude of those legislators who would put the publishers of the state in the attitude if favoring the publicity law merely because it produces revenue for the newspapers, and refuse to allow the publishers to be put in such attitude
 The members of this Association de- sire to state most emphatically to the people and to the legislators that the revenue produced by this law is un- important to the newspapers, and they desire to call to the attention of the people and the legislators that publications of initiated and referred ,,,,ln,. tho i,,;tio+;xrn opl ferendum amendment to the constitu- tioh cannot be handled by some of the larger newspapers of the state be- cause the rate of pay provided therein is too low to make such publications remunerative to such newspapers.
 The Press Association desires to state further that it will make no op- position to any effort to repeal the publicity law which came from the people and not from the legislature The members of the Association be- leve a demand will be made by the people of the state for re-enactment of this measure if it is repealed. If this demand comes from the people the publishers of Arkansas will de. mand that the rate of publication be made the full legal rate instead of half rate as is now provided.
 The publicity law has every right tc remain in the statutes of Arkansas It was passed by the people 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 Assembly relying whol. ly on it's patriotism and fairness ir the matter. The Association desires to announce it's intention to publish this statement in every newspaper al lied with this Association. This pub. lication will be made whether the act is repealed or not, for the pub fishers deem it wise that the people of the state should know their atti- tude in the matter