The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-29
Party Men Vanish
Wien rs Tine to
Pay Tor fcity

u 4 u Z g u !
Newspaper publishers. as a rule.
have begun to realize that Il costs
money 70 publish a newspaper, and
that there seems to be no one but
themselves TO pay their bills, With
this fact constantly confronting
him. many an editor gradually has
lacked his nerve high enough to
strike on publicity seekers. one aft
I er another, until his paper has come
to q point where It's news actually
81 almost all news. says Fred w.
Kennedy, Washington State ed.
tor.
The theory that a newspaper be.
longs to the people leaves room for
argument. That the newspaper also
belongs to the publisher. is brought
to mind each week when the boys
single file into. the inner sanctum
with outstretched hands for their
pay checks. and when once each
month the mail Is heavy with state.
ments from supply houses. land
lords. service servers, and the like.
A newspaper, to be most success
full, must serve the people. That Is,
since the newspaper Is a medium
depending on the good graces OF
the people. Il must give service to
It's constituents.
Theer are many publishers who
still remember the time when the
newspaper was almost wholly a
server Of a political party. "For
the good OF the party" virtually
was tacked.to every masthead, and
the publisher lived up to this motto
sacrcdly. Gradually. however, the
good Of the party" has lost its
flavor and has soured the better
sense Of the publisher who is at.
tempting to serve the greatest mum.
Der Of his readers.
After all, editors do not differ
much from the merchant whose
sole support comes from the PEG.
| pie and who seeks good will
through the advertising columns OF
the newspaper. When It comes to
advertising the politician, however,
considerable difference is found.
The merchant takes space AMI pays
for It. He asks and gets little or
no publicity for himself, and should
he be so bold as to seek publicity
which might directly or indirectly
increase his sales. he Is told his
dope is not news and that he should
SAY It In the advertising col.
umns.r
But along comes the politician,
bright and early, often and al
length. seeking election and de,
pending on the newspaper to put
him over--with the exception OF a
few piacards which he probably
bought from a job printer. And he
lets the publisher hold the sack for
the cost of the news which will
elect him.
"For the good Of the party" un.
doubtedly serves the public. But
serving the public must be paid
for And since the revenue OF the
publisher comes only from the sub.
scriber and advertiser. they are
the ones who are paying for the
campaigns Il candidates, some OF
whom they do. not favor. This con.
traries the accented policy of what
! Is news. But all is fair in politics:
and the politician continues to wool
the eyes OF many publishers for
support without patronage.
To those publishers who have
risen above these conditions, be all
the glory. To those editors also
who refuse to elect politicians with.
out fear OF party connection and
serve all parties alike for the price
paid by other professional and busl.
ness men. be a crown as we'll.
II all readers are to be fairly
served It Is unjust to publish pc.
litical matter for one candidate and
not for all candidates, irrespective
OF party. To publish matter for all
candidates Is unfair to those who
by financial support, make the pa.
per possible. for the reason that pc.
litical dope,is not news unless Il Is
news for the greatest number OF
readers.
Politics Is different. Otherwise
the publisher would not give pub
licity to one candidate and refuse
II to another-or give favorable
news TO one candidate and condemn
another. II the publisher would dis
connect policy from politics, play
the news alike to all, irrespective
! Of party, creed, profession or what,
~ - S1SS7sS >sS;sSsz - accom-
nlished a great stride forward
Fourth Estate.