Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-10-01
Tert of the Konta Letter
Illustrating what the German agents were
aiming to do by the purchase or substituting
of American newspapers.

dIlllS WHAT inc SctHldH agents WCic
aiming to do by the purchase or substituting
OF American newspapers.
New York, March 81. 19l5.-Df Bernard
Dernburg, Ritz-Carlton Hotel New York City
Your Excellency: In re the purchase and pub
LEGATION of daily newspaper in this country
in the interests of Germany and the German
government | beg leave to submit to Your Ex-
cellency the following report, in pursuance OF
our recent conversation:
The expenses of the war news service. COM
bined with considerable decrease of adverts-
ing owing to business depression, have seriously
affected the financial status of several papers
in this city, already made sufficiently precarlous
by the excessive competition of the last IS years
or so. With the standard price of the American
newspapers down to one penny, they have
shown serious loss on each copy Sold which
has had to be met entirely out of advertising
profits. The consequence has been, and this
state of affairs continues that most of the daily
papers in New York have been published at an
annual loss which has had to be met by constant
loans in Wall street which as a rule is content
to take its profits indirectly, in abstention from
hostility to its doings, if not in positive support
of them.
(Then follows detailed discussion of the
New York new paper held)
The price quoted for the Evening Mail by
its editor, who controls the stock, is 81 900.
Whether control of the Globe can be had at all
is matter for cautious inquiry. OF course, an
evening paper can be turned into a morning
paper. if preferred. Certain it is that, generally
speaking, and with the exception of the Evening
Post, the morning press has far more influence
on political opinion in this country than the
evening papers, which are held to be more read
by women. Hence their superiority in the ad-
vertisng field.
"ln all this have assumed that the purpose
is to buy paper already exstant and not to
H., ~ { II, &c 4
aside from the invaluable Associated Press fran
chise, which inhered the paper, however often
it changes hands, the chief advantages of the
purchase of paper already in existence how
ever precarious its state, must be obvious.
There is a name already familiar; there is an
organization in working order, easily remod-
eled; there is a complete pant--all advantages
to be had-for much less than it would cost to
found new paper organize its own news serv
ice, find its editorial and business staff. estab-
hsh connections with advertisers, newsdealers
and so forth
1T is perhaps little to the purpose now to
reflect upon what might have been done 20 years
ago. One of the most sensible schemes then
proposed was the purchase of the Stats Zeitung
and the conversion into an American paper.
The stock of this paper is rapidly changing
hands just now, but who or what is behind this
| have been unable to find out. The present
editor declares that he still has the controlling
interest safely in his hands. Whether the pa
per will be able to retain the circulation which
it has regained since the beginning of the war
is open to serious doubt. 1t might be we'll to
bear the Stats Zeitung in mind for future con-
slderation. Some 10 years ago there was much
talk OF the purchase of the Tribune. This is
now out of the question.
In ordinary circumstances loss Of from
$25000O to 100000 per year would have to be
provided for. but I believe that owing to my
tain ofa xtc 10
this could be greatly reduced, if not wiped out
altogether, by attention to newspaper manage
ment.
"Prohibition is seriously occupying the minds
of the brewers and dstillers of the country 1t
is not a question of temperance, which they ad
vocate, but of the actual prohibition by law of
the sale of beers, wines and liquors. A paper
that would not be hostile to the personal liberty
of the citizen to drink in moderation what he
pleased could count upon the powerful support
of the brewers and distillers who command al
most ilmtable capital. and what is more means
OF giving the paper in question a circulation
large enough to attract advertisers. Add to
this discreet appeal to every German society
in the country, for support by its members, and
we could easily count upon a national daily Cir
culation of 100000 copies. This, to be sure,
would be a circulation among German and Ger
man-Americans, whereas what is wanted is ma
tive American readers, but if this German cir
Suldtlol 10 Dullt up ulSCltSlly DIS suggest, inc
man in the street will only be impressed by
numbers. A large circulation widely adver-
tised would impress the native American and
lead him to take the paper. And meanwhile,
deficit would be changed into profit to be used
for further propaganda.
1.-THE interests to which refer have repeat
edly consulted me on this very subject of
newspaper not hostile to their industry, and l
know that they would be more than ready to
give their support to the plan now in hand.
This is general survey of the field.
Financially the moment is favorable to the plan
under discussion. The newspapers have suf-
fered heavily from the war, and for some of
them the load is beginning to be too heavy.
Politically the transaction would have to be
handled with the utmost delicacy. No suspi-
cion of the influences behind it should be al
lowed to reach the public And the newspaper
world is like a sounding board.
Il shall be delighted to keep myself at your
excellency's disposal in case you should desire
further facts. ALEXANDER KONTA."
~