The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-13
Declaration OF independence
for American Publishers

was helping the community In which
it existed far more than the business
| men could possibly help the paper.
Growing up from those early days,
there came into the newspaper world
a spirit which permitted subscribers
and advertisers, and even those who
wanted to use the paper without be-
ing either subscribers or advertisers,
to take it for granted that the news
paper was a purely philanthro2ic in
stitution upon whose resources they
could draw without limit, however
great might be the burden thus
placed upon the brain and strength
of the editors and publishers.
Many who have been ready to run
eagerly to the newspaper office for
its aid in furthering their work or
their plans have yet somehow held
themselves as superior beings to the
men who made the papers and thus
held in their hands the power of
what is really the superior element
of the nations life.
The time has come in the history
of the world for new declaration of
independence which shall mark a
revolutionizing change in the relation
between the publishing business and
the public.
1t is time for the newspapers and
the magazines which are worthy to
exist to place a true value upon their
work and their services, and upon
their part in maintaining the very
life of the nation.
This new declaration OF independ-
ence, which should be issued from the
office of every American publication,
may mean some struggle. 1t may
mean that those who have counted
themselves as superiors will think
that they can ignore this spirit of
freedom and continue to deal with
the publishing business as the people
of the country have done in the
past disregard it when it suits their
convenience, seek it's favor when it
can help. and then pay beggarly
sum for the paper or the magazine
they buy while getting ten times the
value of the amount they pay.
In congress there has for years
been constant denunciation of the
newspaper postal rate, though the
United States is charging twice as
high postal rate for its newspapers
and magazines as is Canada, and the
move has now been put into effect |
TO greatly increase the rate It has |
been claimed that the publishers are |
an enormous profit out of the ,
government. AS matter of fact, |
hey are not doing so. The public |
las been getting the benefit of the /
ow postal rates which were brought
nto existence years ago by congress
or the express purpose of serving
he public, and now that the govern
nent has increased the postal rate i
md added to the fiat increase a zone !!
ystem. which during the next four
ears will advance rates from fifty to
line hundred per cent. over the for
ner rates as the zone distance in
reases, American newspapers and
magazines must choose between lib
rty or death. If they choose liberty
hey must utilize the occasion to
lace their business upon an entirely
ifferent foundation and to establish
on declaration of independence
Thich, so far as the publishing bust
ess is concerned, will be as revolu-
lonizing as that of Its in world
fairs. What that declaration meant
l liberty enlightening the world the
business means, as in all
its ramifications it enlightens the
7orld and advances the progress of
cience and art and everything else
hitch makes for human advance
lent, and in this hour when the life
civilization is at stake the news
apers and magazines must dedicate
II that is in them to the mighty task
winning the war.