The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-04-15
NEWSPAPERS HAVE
FIGHT FOR LIVES
Non-partisan Legislation
About to Wipe Them
OFF the Map
Two-Eiundred Papers of
North Dakota Have
Been Denounced
BEEN DENOUNCED

BEEN DENOUNCED
Two hundred newspapers in North
Dakota are putting up a fight fol-
existence. Denounced by the Non
partisan league as being the kept
press" because they did not endorse
the league, they are about to be
wiped off the newspaper map and
put out of business by Non-partisan
legislation. The same legal enact
ment that puts them out of bust
ness, also turns their business to the
papers owned by the Non-partisan
league, and at one stroke makes
these in fact and practice kept
press" kept and supported by the
whole state and all the people in it
whether they like it or not.
Former Aroo Man Did 1t
North Dakota is ruled by the Nom
partisans and a former Arco man,
J. w. Brinton who once published
the Arco Advertiser, framed law
providing for the appointment of an
official paper in each county in
the state, in which all legal notices
of every kind, both public and pri-
vate, must be published. Having
them published in no other paper,
no matter how large a circulation
they had in the county, would not
give the notice legal recognition, and
the only salvation there is left for
the newspapers that do not enjoy
the favor of the Non-partisan Of
ficials is to call referendum vote
of the people of the state to repeal
the law, and such referendum is be-
ing fought out on the soil of North
Dakota with a bitterness seldom seen
in political fights.
Had Laid the Foundation
The Non-partisans had prepared
the way in advance, by organizing
newspaper companies or corporations
and selling enough stock to farmers
to capitalize the business and when
the chain of papers was complete
they enacted this law to force the
business to those papers.
Starting in Idaho
Such a process is in progress in
Idaho, and they have secured con-
troll of few newspapers either
openly or indirectly. One example is
the Nampa Record, which they bar
gained for for $4,000. They sold
stock to the farmers to pay for it,
and then organized a stock company
for $25, 900, watering the stock for
the controlling interest and making
a stock certificate to w. G. Scholtz
for the $4,000 to control it. When
the farmers finally demanded to
know where was the $4,000 Scholtz
is said to have admitted that he had
not yet paid it, but said he was ready
to settle, and he gave them a promis-
sorry note payable in ten years, after
date, and got it accepted and the
adjourned.
A Former BlackfOot Man
Charlie Bumgarner, a former resi-
dent of Blackfoot, and Rev. Deal,
Meth dist minister Of Nampa, were
of the board of directors,
and were very active in trying to
take away Mr.. Scholtz's power. At
a special meeting called for the
nineteenth Of MarcN to throw
Scholtz out" Scholtz had his stock
in the hands of other men who voted
as he wanted them to, and he threw
Out the whole board and elected one
Of his own. They claim that with
out putting up a dollar he has the
the management and control of the
paper. 1t is said they are taking the
matter into the courts to see whether
water stock can be manipulated
n this way to defeat the will of all
he people who put up the money.
1t will be remembered that wat
red stock and the kept press" were
,wo of the things the Non-partisan
organizers and speakers have always
very bitterly and urged
lpon their hearers as good reasons
Why they should join the league to
light all such wrongs.
Print Paper Still High
The present high prices of print |
)aper are bountd to exist for some
line, or advance somewhat. The
)rice has been fixed by a commits |
ion, after making exhaustive inves-
igations of the cost of manufacture.
The manufacturers protested that |
he price fixed was too low and got a
and it was raised some.
short time ago the publishers made
n appeal for re-hearing and it
vas refused.
Greater Scarcity in Prospect
In the past ten years no new
aper mills have been built, and only
wo have been enlarged. The WIS.,
BILE supply, or reserve of print paper
Il the United States is only sufficient
o last about six weeks, and foreign
ountries are buying up as much of
hat as they can for shipment abroad.
Indications are that the paper fam
ne will become more pronounced as
cean shipping Accommodations be-