Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-26
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POORLY MANAGED.

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One al the North Dakota league papers repeats
I'D a very familiar statement the other day, II said
that IN the early days Of the existence at the Nom
A partsan league the Country Gentleman had dis
gaIixatinn, but that later, oheying the orders OF it's
4 advertisers, II had reversed its policy, and since
4 then had Taught the league unremittingly,
The Country Gentleman. as everybody knows,
10 one at the Curtis publications, Within a few
aNaaFs the publishers have built UP for their maga-
sl,nllar list, 1t gees without saving that a great
Ideal Of husiness ability 1of high order has been
sslsaWn In the management, The advertising pat
ropage has been excellent, Among the advertisers
Nre some al the largest and most successful con-
Germs In the country,
II we are to accept the theory that the policy
Int these magazines Ia dictated by the advertisers,
s.5shaW are we to account Tor the fact that one Of the
magaxines strayed from the fold and remained out
side the fence for several monthsa
II the advertisers dictated the policy, those re-
~spansihle for the production Of the magazine knew
y, The publishers knew before they published the
Arst article somewhat favorable to the league that
this would be unsatisfactory to their hosaes, Vet
the magazine treated the league in quite friendly
%tashion, issue after issue, for a period Of several
gmpnths,
Assuming that some Of the ablest people in the
did actually close their eyes to the effect
sat what they We're doing, and did actually publish
what they knew would be displeasing to those who
dictated the policy, how are we to account for the
amazing negligence Of the advertisers in permitting
the publication OF what they knew to be contrary
te their ewn Interest, The publication was not
stepped after the appearance Of the first article. or
the second; hut a series OF considerable length was
run, all the articles being Of the same general tenes,
Gan we imagine such negligence and ohtuseness ON
the part et people whom we knew to be capahla
and Wha, we have been told in league and other
sinillar papers, have at all times been in complete
eentrala
There is another explanation Of the facts which
ldees not involve these ahsurdities, The Philadel-
phia publishers, like most others, have undertaken
te build ". large circulation by the publication Of
articles which would appeal to their readers. On
9FtAas basis at that circulation they expected to OBJ
tain g large advertising patronage, That ambition
has been realized, business concerns buying space
ta journals having a large circulation among pros
psetlye buyers OF their goods, The publishers have
sought 70 deal fairly with movements ot general in
teFesta and to present their features accurately, In
the case OF the Noapartisan league they made the
mistake Which many other easterners did, Of accept
MS At their iaee value too many Of the statements
made BY league promoters, they were told, and
n Arst they believed, that the league movement was
Afeal Farmers movement, organized and conducted
Ay farmers ia their own interest, and intended to
vsmoye abuses from which the farmers suffered,
MI Nm thas assumption the league movement was
n hTst treated With respect and even with cordial
al Rut as the movement was studied it's real char>
&teF became more apparent, tt was found that
hhe thang Gid not originate With farmers, but with
professional Socialist a~gitators, II was found that
she farmers had nothing to do with the control Of
sshe organization into which they had been misled,
With the shaping Of it's policies. and that their
SQls junction was intended to be, and was, to pro-
aaee funds when the demand was made, and to de-
Ners Votes as directed,
M When this was anderstood-and that required
Seefae enMe--the movement was treated on the basis
Dc asceFtained facts, and facts are things which the
eague managers like to keep as far In the hack-
Noand as possible