The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-27

were being warped gradually but con-
| sistently to the recognition of the en-
| larged, engorged and endured news
paper. 1t was becoming an expen-
sive and enslaved custom. Higher
| priced paper is the only serum that
could break up the fever. 1t has done
| it and with it, it is hoped, comes a
vaccination against attacks of the flu
ture.
Better balanced newspapers, cas-
Ter and quicker read newspapers,
cleaner and snapper written news
papers. condensed, abridged, improv-
| ed, appreciated and more carefully
the ruins of the paper shortage
| Drew Mclaughlin On Ads.
| Under the topic, How to Secure
Foreign Advertising" Drew McLaugh-
lin, of the Hiawatha World said: II
made a statement that rustling for
| foreign advertising is the biggest fac
! tor in securing it. l would qualify
| that. Getting subscribers and know
| ing subscribers is the real factor. The
! subscription list is the foundation of
all the newspaper business. 1t is the
principal part of securing any kind of
| business The better one knows his
subscription list, the way in which
subscribers receive his paper. the way
the territory is served and whether
subscribers read advertisements and
take advantage of offers, the better
| 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.
McLaughlin's Missionary
| Il send out a solicitor to get in
touch with my subscribers for me.
Rather he is the missionary. 1 find
1T 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,
solicit subscriptions, but it is in an
indirect way 1t always brings re-
suits-and they are what count. My
soncitor goes out and covers each
rural route thoroly. What 1 pay him
amounts to about 25 per cent of his
! collections. He has a book for each
| rural route ana town. When he solic-
ieS ne takes census of route-reports
now subscribers regard the paper,
ana names of others who simply are
| indifferent and do not care to take
nome paper. He brings back written
report on each person."
Harvey on School News.
r. Casper Harvey. head of the Eng
llsh department CT the Hays normal
made an address on journalism
Without a Guidepost" He complained
tLiat the schools have no recognized
pace 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
t39 per cent of Kansas weeklies print
ed nine inches or less educational
news per issue. This is estimated
from EOS papers from all parts of the
state. Out of an average of 286
inches of reading matter per issue
seventeen inches are for school news
including every possible reference to
educational matters. The editors say
their school news is not satisfa Glory
and that it should re increased.
william Allen White thinks the
schools should have three times as
! much space as The police courts. C
Al .Harger fixes the proper amount
or school news at 0 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
pedagoSic but not news value, ani
that it promotes snobbishness by be
ing chiefly about the socially prom
inent.
THE remedy suggested is that jour-
nalism should be taught in the high
schools. classes should be trained II
giving school news and county super.
intendents should be interested enough
to give news of rural schools What
we need is a stand editorialIy for pro
gressive school policies. The unceT-
tainty about the publication of schoo
news, its furnishing by agents for the
schools, and the criticism made n
what is furnished and is published
this is journalism without 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 aceepl
advertising from all political parties
according to Fay n. Seaton, editor OF
the Manhattan Mercury, who discuss
ed the question today.
Mr.. Seaton pointed out that a news
paper is n quasi common carrier OF
advertising and is under obligations Il
accept all advertising offered which
is not Objectionable. Political adver.
Using is not Objectionable, he said
and a newspaper owes it to its readers
to present or permit to be preSeEtei
thru its columns all sides of public
questions, if presenting any. By 81
doing, said Mr.. Seaton, the newspaper
pleases it's readers and advertisers o
; political faiths different from thu
editors.
THAT is the fair thing to do" ht
said, land such fairness strengthen,
the eQlIOT ) Sldnul-iS III lIiS
! and the public's confidence in his sin
cerity in his own views of politica
, issues; and that such advertising :
. profitable source of income.'
He also pointed out that the eriti
cism that a papers support may b.
purchased by means of advertiser:
thru its columns cannot be applied Il
the papers which accept -dvertisin:
. from all parties.
Miller Warns Editors.
W. E. Miller, of the ST. Marvs Star
spoke on Newspapers in Democ
racy." He spoke of the conflict in
popular government between the fac