The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-26
,ject in itself and one which !. have
already discussed before public confer
ence in North Dakota
The Home Paper

Y The Home Paper
Have you ever been hundred miles
from home without PERSON near OF
your acquaintance back home, or arc
establishing for yourself possibly in a
new home? What are your feelings
when the country newspaper. even
though it be but two sheet, comes
What comfort our country newsMt.
pers have been to our brave boys in
'cant0nment camps. OH tfe battle lines
in France or in the hospitals while re-
covering from wounds. Just to Illus
tIute, I received letter from sol
der boy now in Germany with our
army, who said among other things
there were times "over there" when IN
battle that he thought that all that
would be left Of him when he recov.
cred from the advance on the enemy
would be Il little wooden cross "Some
where in France" In the conclusion
Of this Letter he said. "Pleasc. Billy,
send me few copies Of the Pcmbina
Pioneer Express" Is North Dakota
going to cripple her country press:
Good, wholesome publicity dished up
in II county newspaper is the greatest
cure for corrupt public affairs that
men ever invented.
Creates Bossism
Shall we have but one official news
paper in each county? Later but one
newspaper of any kind? Later but
one newspaper, with one. editor. thus
placing the pulSution of the publics'
pulse in the hands Of one doctor to
prescribe as he sees fit? Put all the
small towns off the map as far as Il
local newspaper is concerned? Have
but one or two places in county
where people locally know what has
happened each week in their t, town
without joining Il gossip society?
When l read in the press that all pub
lication' fees were to be paid to one
in the county. It naturally
occurred to me what would be the final
result. All that we can possibly do
is surmise. Here is my guess what
will happen in Pembina county.
The first year there would be grand
rush for votes as between Pembina
seven papers, a small minorit!
Of the, population can control and
name official paper. No paper can ex-
pect to- get a majority vote. The win
ner' would forthwith get a large ma
jority, yes, probably Is per cent Of
the subscribers of the county. All
business men and outside advertisers
would advertise in said paper. Peo-
pie outside the county desiring county
news would be come subscribers. The
winner would have big advantage at
the end Of his term for reelection, be-
fore the start for another election he
would have ut least some out of the
way. If he won again, in five years
where would the Otherssix papers be?
Believe me, it keeps some guessing
now to get out their weekly sheet and
make a living. Instead of discourag-
ng weekly newspapers in several
places throughout the county, we
should boost. 1t is the.only means the
Jusy farmer, business man. or bum
lthey all read }, hav We of finding out the
general news 'l6frhis immediate vicin-
ty. n lL2 Tr.E 4;.ads.!bt' ,tiL ,Irg.'S e.i''
:, 1t has sometimes comes to the writ
,r's mind the idea. WOulu"it be pos.
,ihle to make every newspaper in the
an official newspaper; Have |
he newspaper publishers organize into
I, society or corporation. publish sup
clement to their newspaper containing |
,nly. public. notices. proceedings. etc,
low required, to be published. all sup.
dement's alike each publisher tn send |
nit with his newspaper copies ofNsup- |
clement. = supplement- TO be included I
'nly with papers going to voters Of
ounty, copies going otherwise to- be
laid for. Voter to select the neWspa-
1er in county In which, his supplement /
y, to be sent. Allow the same ~publi-
alton fees ns is now paid! for In |
stance where publication is in one
newspaper only the single rate, if In
hree, the rate for the three to be
.harged. Publication fees placed in
,nc jackpot and divided up pro rata,
according to number Of voter selec-
ions each paper has. This sounds like
| dream. take it for what 1t is worth:
cut think it has the one official news
paper plan skinned Il mile
Yours for Il greater North Dakota.
W. W. FELSON.