The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-06
TELLS EDITORS
THEY MUST NOT
SHIRK DUTIES
In Face of Oppressive Laws Mr..
.FOrkner Points Inde- \
pendent Path s.
REVIEWS RISING COSTS
North Dakota N Newspapers
Should Advance Advertising
and Circulation Rates
REVIEWS RISING COSTS
Especial to The Tribune.)

T dISO, ~. L., Aug. O.-InG QdnOl-
caps under which independent news
papers in North Dakota labor with
oppressive legislation and rising
costs will not keep independent edi
tors from doing their duty toward
their communities and the state at
large, M. I. Forkner, of the Cavalier
county Republican, president Of the
North Dakota Press Association, told
the assembled editors here today.
He urge closer cooperation be-
tween members of the press associa-
tion and an extension of it's activ-
tiles. s b.
IF we had understood one another
and understood one another's prob
lens and duties to society a few
years ago, as we understand them to.
day, we might have prevented just
the condition in North Dakota that
we now are trying to remedy" he
said. IF we had always fought as
zealously for the right and stood to-
gether for it as we did in the recent
primaries, without allowing our
knees to weaken, it might never have
been necessary for the people to pass
a law to- keep the red flag out OF the
state" t-.s..
The editors were welcomed by
Mayor Stern, of Fargo, and the res
ponse was made by G. W. Stewart,
of Wilton, which were followed By
the addresses of Mr.. Forkner and
Mr.. Harrington.
Others on the program for this az
ternoon were George FAIRIES, Willis.
ton; c. d. Stiles, Mckenzie; James
Rockwell, Fargo; Y. p. Anderson,
Hatton; H. G. Hotaling, St. Paul.
This evening the past officers OF the
association will be guests OF Past
President Norman Black, of the Far
go Forum, at dinner. An address By
James Schermerh0rn, editor of the
Detroit Times. is the feature of the
nights meeting.
News Print Shortage.
Mr.. Forkner predicted that 1--WE are
about through with socialism as a
controlling force in North Dakota's
government. We are going to drive
the money changers from the tenn
pie at the November election and
our action is going to have a Won
ucIlul OlAcCJ Ill luC IOtol ulu6 Va IAS
proeress of radicalism in America"
Mr.. Forkner discussed the news
pr44L shortage and other rising costs
facing newspapers. "A QUESTIONABLE
sert out early this year and from the
replies it was learned that the pub
fishers needed five times as mucn
print as they had on hand to meet
the current years requirements;
that very little had been ordered
without being delivered and very lit
tie was in transit, he said. The price
ranged from 5 to II cents. ~.
zsS Advertising too Low.
"We found that the advertising IN
the state is altogether too low, con
siderlng the present cost of produci
tion,'. he said. He urged all newc-
papers in the state to Immediately
adopt the rate suggested by the ma
tional association, figured out by ex-
perts and based upon exhaustive in
vestigation. He recommended that
no weekly newspaper sell subscrlp'
tions at less than $500 year.
Mr.. Forkner reviewed the passage
of the Brinton newspaper grab Dill
and the fight made on the bill. 1t IS
doubtful if the bill is operative IN
North Dakota, he said, referring to
the printed opinion of j. F.. Sullivan,
of Mandan. :"
I'm many counties the boards OF
subdivisions have accepted MIR. Sui
livan's opinion and are awarding
their printing to independent news
papers." he Said. "At least few
subsidized newspapers have been
compelled to share with legitimate
newspapers the patronage that was
at one time legislated from them'
Against Free Publicity.
The president urged the employ
ment of a paid secretary. There
are so many activities that a nell
secretary could direct, and there are
so many ways in which he could De
of assistance to members Of this as
sociation that it is almost impos-'
sible to enumerate them he SAID.
He suggested that paid secretary
could aid in promoting efficiency
within plants, offer cost suggestions,
and generally look after the inter
ests of all the publishers.
Eve are falling for altogether too
much free publicity these days, when
the world needs more good whole
some news and editorials of the
ample, steadying kind he" said, say.
ing that paid secretary COULD save
his salary if he could prevail upon
all editors and publishers to turn
down space spongers,"
District meetings ought to be held
by the association, and. the president
suggested that If conditions ever
become normal in North Dakota, and
the wheels of government run with
less friction We must start at once
the institution of a school Of prac-
tical printing at one or more places,
and in each of our shops institute
some practical scheme of making
our work more attractive to appren-
tices. .-..
CONTINUED on Page Six