The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-04-27
the puhENGnaM INCIDENT.

When the oye&lls movement started IN Bir-
mng hmm tho tytail merchants demanded that
the rewspap% suppress all mention OF tho
movcrent yrhe publishers very properly re-
jectcd tho kpudcut demand and published all
news Fof movement that measured up to
cstabushef and recognized standards
Tho INCIDENT serves to call attention to very
gravel rtsconeeption among some classes OF
merch,,&ts concerning the relationship between
publisher and advertising patron. There
patrons OF papers who still cling to the idea
that they have the right 20 dictate the policy of
u publication simply because they do more or
less business with tho advertising department.
and such patrons continually complaining
because the news and editorial columns not
run In their interest
This is an absurd idea. Tho business patron
of newspaper docs business with the business
office. II is assumed on both Sides OF the
counter that there Is fair and equitable OK
change OF value, The transaction ends thore.
such patron has perfect right to complain to
the editorial executives concerning any matter
whercon he feels himself aggrevcd But so has
any reader whether ho spends a dollar with the
business office or not But both must come
the merits of their case, and the amount of
money either one spends with the business office
has nothing to do with It,
In wel-regulated newspaper any individual
can get to the editorial authority and be heard
In u considerate manner on any legitimate sub
joct. But the suppression or garbling OF news is
not legitimate subject to take up with an
editorial executive. A newspaper does not mako
news. That is something that should be borne
in mind. Its function is to publish the news
that others make. And when It does either more
or less than this 1t very properly falls under sus-
picon and It's influence
Had the Birmingham publishers yielded to the
threats of the Birmingham merchants they would
not only have seriously injured their own in
teress, but they would have been doing their
advertising patrons distinct dsservlce. For
the public would have quickly scented conniv-
ance between publicity asent and it's patron, and
a fad would have become a burning issue.
Every wild sensational suspicion would have at
been verified, and public opinion would
almost certainly have driven some to oxcesscs,
The primary purpose OF newspaper Is not
to serve It's advertisers, but to serve it's readers
The very name--newspaper-imp this. BE
cause II publishes the daily news-tho current
history or its locality and time-peoplo become
subscribers. II the service OF the publication
is unusually satisfactory AZ it's policy breeds
confidence and earps generous. approval, its
readers multiply and the od-will toward the
publication increases,
The opportunity for reaching the attention OF
a large number OF substantial people and poton-
tial patrons thus afforded appeals to the man
with wares TO vend. Thus advertising came into
existence. But IL the chief concern of the pub
lication In the first place had been to appease
the impossible demands OF advertisers, then the
subscription lists could never have been builded
An illuminated hand bin would have resulted
something that no one would take seriously
much less pay for.
1t Is a truism of the publishing business that
that which is for the ultimate best interests OF
the paper isself--which earns for It greater