Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-03
OF EIGHT COUNTIES
MEET HERE TO DISCUSS
TRADE PROBLEMS.
PAPER SHORTAGE AND
LABOR SITUATION DEBATED
Remedies Sought For Serious Situa-
tions--Speeialists Discuss knotty
In Charse-visitors Lunch Guests
of Times Republican.

district Of the Iowa Press Association,
comprising Hardin. Grundy, Story,
Polk, Marshall, Jasper, Tama and Iowa
counties, met in this city today to
talk shop. Problems confronting pub
fishers were discussed and means were
proposed to increase the efficiency of
the mechanical forces and for procur-
ing needed supplies of news print pa
per.
Delayed trains and muddy roads cur
tailed the attendance at the morning
session but the arrival Of late trains
and the midday passengers Increased
the attendance for the afternoon meet
ing.
The plan of district meetings of
newspaper publishers Is based on the
idea Of bankers group meetings. These
sessions are held for the purpose of
discussing newspaper problems gener-
ally, with special emphasis this year
on the news print situation and the
help problem.
Small Papers Face Disaster.
The smaller papers Of Iowa now are
virtually at the mercy Of the print pa
per manufacturers and jobpers. The
supply of print paper has been short
for some years and now the situation
is more serious than ever before.
Increased demands Of the larger city
papers have caused the paper mills to
curtail deliveries to the country papers
and to request the country town print
ers to restrict their news output.
To meet these conditions it may be
necessary for the smaller publishers TO
resort to cooperative buying. 1t has
been suggested that the publishers I'M
lite, If need be, and buy the entire ou,-
put of a mill. This, it was argued,
could be done, and probably must be
have to suspend publication.
HeIp Problem Serious.
The help problem It was said. is
equally serious and many shops have
been obliged to operate with small
forces. Printers and pressmen, who
were called for military service have
been slow in returning to work and
AAldAy li1NC oouSiI otlCl JcD5.
The bidding of the city papers for
the services Of country linotype oper-
ators, printers and pressmen has added
to the country shortage and the small
er publishers are confronted with the
necessity Of paying city wages even tho
the subscription prices must be ad-
vanced.
Papers Should Cost Tore.
There is no doubt in the minds Of
many publishers that the subscription
price of a majority of the papers is far
too low. Many Of the country papers
it was said, are receiving from $3.50
to 81 year, while, it Is argued, no
paper now can be produced as it should
be. with fair profit. under 81 year.
It was pointed out that one county
seat weekly was selling at 81 year
and finding times hard because daily
paper in a nearby county was selling
at So.
National advertising a1so was dis
cussed at the forenoon session and this
afternoon, many topics OF interest to
the individual publishers were discuss
ed.
Field Secretary Hero.
G. L. Caswell. of Denison, field Sec
rotary for the Iowa Press Association,
was in charge of the meeting. Mr..
Caswell came here from the district
meeting at Cedar Rapids, which closed
Thursday. The interest shown in the
district meetings has been unusually
good and Mr.. Caswell predicts an i'm
provement in the condition Of the
smaller publishers as result Of the
state. Publishers who had made a spec
ial study Of important topics led the
discussions today and all took part in
the general debate.
Guests Of Times. Republican.
The visitors were guests Of the
metropolitan at 1890 when
luncheon was served in the Masonic
rooms, where the afternoon session was
held. The morning meeting, called at
1890 was at the Marshalltown Club.
Mr.. Caswell explained that the edi-
tors were not here to be entertained
by the people Of Marshalltown but to
discuss questions Of the utmost i'm
portance and 1t had been the rule at
all such gatherings for the delegates to
remain in session until time to depart
for home. AS a. result 1t was doubt
full II many would avail themselves OF
the opportunity to see Marshalltown by
automobile, but arrangements had been
made by the Marshalltown Club to take
the editors for q motor tour Of the
city.
- At tho Hospitals.