Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / April 23, 1908, edition 1 / Page 9
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CHABLOTTE DAILY OBSERVER, APRIL 23, 1903. -ought to leva tJe eTerlasrtng truth . that .ballots are -respectable -when tbey represent eonnctlons., Every -.'Step In the worhfe progress ha ome . through independent thought and ac tion. Brery c hlevmerui haa . crime "through the Instrumentality or men : who went a. little further than-there, The way hat leads to -greater and grander things la the way. that lnde- . pendent, thinkers travel. . . REV. ' DR.V ATKINSON'S ABLE E3- i .. -xi -: ''-. - - A T . j ' , ... . A profound Impression , w made upon the editor oy tne essay -01 kv. Dr. J. O. Atkinson, of The Christian 6uh,- whose aubwct was "Should a Religious. Weekly Enter Jhe Domain -of Politics, and If o, to -What Ex- :,tentr--s Vv'f'',;.-:'-i--': .'V v "For two reasons. said he." "A re- Jlglous weekly should not enter the do . main of politics. The first reason Is be - cause of the fact that when It enters. like those who entered Dante's Inferno as te their hope. It legres 1U religion behind, and the second reason is be cause the ; yory fax that ft enter politics is good evidence tnat it maa .- no religion to leave behind. This , 1 not said to the detriment of poll ties, or to the derogation of religion. The politics-religious editor, or the rellglous-polltlcs editor ' is Neither a politician nor religionist. He Is monstrosity. ' A religious ntn may -edit a political, paper, and a politi cian may sometimes edit a religious I III ..IT ----- seasons, be it said. -y ; REUOlON.ia THE REAL BUSINESS "In fairness to both, let us get at the line of cleavage. - I Had It here; i the editor: of the religious weekly tias a more serious and constant usi- ' - Y. M AT I , t Th Mil : business of mankind Is not politics. but religion.' . In the freat of political 'Upheavals - you" see v menengaged" lit spectacular and passionate piay in the aulet. orderly life of the Individ ual, you see him ,. about the serious business or religion. The politician does not live who can. year In and year out, draw. audiences and collect , congregations to discuss pontics; man 'take annual, perpetual nay . verily. ' etenisJ Interest In that which aertatni . to their .re Hjt Ion. , it-is the deeper, saner, safer side of man which the religious editor is striving and Strug' gltng constantly to reach, deal with and Influence for man's further bet terment and Ood's everlasting glory. ORiaiN' OT REUaiOtTS WEEKLY. "The first religious weekly was born Just 10 years; ago. It- cam -into the world was there a cause or a mere coincidence ? contemDoraneous- ly with the advent ot the modern .- movement for missions. : Denomma : tlonal colleges, Church charities, or- - chan homes and retreats for the worn and weary ami Into the world less than 10 years a so. . so much nss -been accomplished since the birth of ihe religious. weekly that one cannot '. doubt that it was divinely called Into exletenoe. - The rellgous weekly has been called to th service of God for the betterment of. man's moral and economic condition; a watchman on . the walls, a voice of warning, a trum pet calling to battle the medium throurh which the tollers for truth and righteousness might speak one to ' the ether. Shall this high aim and lefty purpose whereunto It was born, ' lee prostituted to the play, passion . and pastime of men engaged merely In this fleeting, fretful game of poll tics? -Ood torWdr - :i INFLUENCE OS SOCIETY. The Speaker qotedMhef oUowlng- tar (howthe influence of Hie religious weekly on. society: ; "The Initiation of the religious Jour . : nallsm introduced a force In human so ciety tnat .nas- peen Diesaea, 01 uoa in tne spread of truth and the educa tion of society In moral and religious Ideals. . The weekly rellgous paper ias not' only been a potent positive educator, in. that wnlci-is good. . but It has acted In a negative way to pre- . vent the security of false Ideas end vile practices In Christian civilisation. . The religious paper has always stood for decency., morality, honesty and re ' liglon. ' It has 'always opposed so cial indiscretion, commercial deception and civil hypocrlcy. . This has laid a check upon the secular .thought , ana siaea materially in elevating tne tone and moral standard of the press. .All this' has wrought out a compara tively clean literature, and expanded the application of moral and ethical principles.. - The rellgioua paper holds a place' in the world of print similar k t v ...... v j t. ciety. , AH of human society Is not - religious ' In the real spiritual sense; but all ef society is improved Dy the Church and the standard of right which the Church sets up and --tries to maintain. The . ramifications of primary and central forces funnat bT felly traced but In a general sense, we can-see that' they act like con ' Rtltntlons in civil states, or like en gines, in great mills, Temperance, education, reforms, benevolent insti tutions, all had their first advocates In religious journals." CHRIST ATTTrUDB - TOWARD J T: CORRUPTION . "ir think even now and with all reverence and prof oundest admiration of the Jtfan of Oallles."In His day and time, . there was gross political corruption on every hand; oppression abounded, slavery prevailed, tyranny was rampant and oppressive, yet as - to even one of these He opened not His mouth, Hs did iie. abuse rulers, decry corruption In high places, or preach politics. 1 He left the .matter of measures to men. " But. be It said, to His everlasting glory and eternal " wisdom. He went ooldly, -fearlessly, but patiently after men. without fear, falling or, favor and Influenced them j for truth, virtue and Integrity.-' 'And from His life. Influence and teachta?, ..there came a manhood, nay verily, a stalwart, noble yeomanry, wha in' the power of their might and in His name, made corruption too hideous 'to be borne.. . '--.i j - PARTISAN? - AND RELIGIOUS PA- PER CONTRASTED. -r; "The ' partisan paper deals with man as he is; the religious paper shews man what he may become. The . partisan paper, feeds and fans the fickle ambition of man: the religious paper tells of high ana holy aspira tions that may be attained. The partisan paper treats of man here; .the religious paper is dealing with Aian for the hereafter. In the wise , providence of Ood. both have come to eerve a' most noble and glorious frurpose. The partisan paper through right measures is leading us to be right" men; -the religious, paper through the rls'at men are leading us te better methods. And these two combined, with ever-Increasing pow er and influence, are making for a better state, a nobler manhood, and a brighter, happier world In which to live.- .. -- ,.. ; THE ' EDITOR AND HIS 8TB- .. ; SCRJBERS." . . . The subject assigned Editor "ft. T. 'Reasleyr of The Monroe Journal wss "The Editor and His Subscribers." The thought that the editor displayed Ms real self In hie paper and through nis paper, to nis - constituents was fully developed. Said he: , "It la asreed that ths ' richest asset of a valuable newspaper la intangible, but real,; lime thing known as Its good will. The physical - enVcte of any newspaper plant of the first water is not anything Tike its "market value yet this Is not the result of a cap! tali ration ot- earning capacity based upon a monopoly; , the- psper ' has neither .- franchise. '-, monopoly nor special privilege. Anybody may be come a competitor. . what is neces sary for the' creation and maintenance of this attitude, which is a paper's most valuable nosaesslon. and. witn out which It cannot survive I think the answer Is found la the subject asslsmed to me. V I shall speak of conditions that 'surround - journalism as we know it In North Carolina, the paper that has a known editor whose personality is the chief characteristic of the paper. - No one will contend that Journalism in our State Is not still personal. : The hired editor and the Impersonal : writer, ' quite" neces sary and right In their places, nave not yet a place , in North Carolina. There Is not a paper In our. borders whose influence has respect that is not dominated by one perfectly well known personality. ..- c - READER'S' RESPECT ' JSECESSARY To command the respect of- the Individual reader and the public, the exempuncations of certain elemental characteristics ' Is necessary- In a newspaper. After be has secured the respect of his readers, there are many attributes that an editor must bave In order to Increase his Influence,, to make his paper more widely read and to augment his profits. The sine qua non are a fair degree of sense and a full measure ef honesty on the part of the editor. Though few men are good judges of wisdom, most are good Judges, ef honesty -and hence the second requirement must be pos sessed to the full by the editor who would be worthy of - the name- I use the word honesty as a generic term, embracing fairness, courage, justice ' and even generosity, as well as other evidences, of manliness An editor must - be , courageous,., possess that higher form of courage which simply means the determination to do at any cost regardless of conse quences. , Perhaps the courage of no set of men is more , severely tried than the editor's, and the bent battles are fought with himself alone. The liberty of the press of to-day makes it true that the courage not to do Is often finer strained than that to do. He must fight against the sins both of omission and commission. .To say an unjust thing knowingly Is worse man to leave unsaid a tning wnicn duty says should be voiced MUST GUARp AGAINST FAKIRS. "The full power of publicity Is Just now beginning to be understood and with It the number of men, con-, eeriut and enterprises that are at tempting to use - dishonest methods In creating publlo opinion Is legion. They approach, the editor from every unexpected standpoint, but he must keep faith with the public. Here. we are reminded . of the . dictum of Charles A. Dana: 'Never print an advertisement as news matter; 'et everv advertisement appear as ' an advertisement; no sailing under false colore.' while the editor owns his property, he does not own the right to speak ror his community, to repre sent it before the world end thereby to demand Its support. Those things are given to him in proportion to tne use he makes of them. In the pro portion in which he shows his ability to nil bis place. , NOT MERELY A MONEY-MAKER. "Any editor who regards his paper so much of a private affair as to wish It to make money except as a result of more fully serving Its pub no mission is not living up to nis opportunities and has put his calling upon tne plane or mere merchandise. And-while I have' triads honeety end Its correlatives the first consideration necessary to secure the respect of his subscribers, an editor Is under further obligations by reason of his Implied contract That Is the obllga tlon to ore due diligence in making a judgment worth standing by. An editor is bound to consecrate ,hls energies, Ms ability, to - the task of giving his readers the best there is In him. Personal ambition, vanity, self-aggrandisement and all other forms of selfishness must resolutely be left behind. And now. I think thst the editor. having proven himself, the editor will ana nis readers cling to Mm for tne worth they, have found. The old paper Is to them a familiar face; Its voice Is the counsel they can trust; Its Influence has moulded their char acter unconsciously; Its beliefs are their beliefs; its God their God, and they will live and die with It " MR. MARTIN DEFENDS HIMSELF. A paper 'that was given rapt at tention was that read by Mr. H. C. Martin, editor of The Lenoir News, who hsd for his subject,-"Should a Newspaper .Be Non-PartlsanT" He stated In the beginning that he would deal only with the papers in the amaJJir -i.in- the dallies altogether from his discussion. He drew a distinction between the term "non-partisan" and the term "neu tral.". Said hei-"The paper that commends a political opponent where commendation is justly due, end at the same time censures a political friend where censure Is Justly due. Is taking what I understand to. mean' a non-partisan position. .There was a time -when perhaps- a-paper rcould condemn, ridicule and even . villi fy everybody who held different views from those held by the party with which It was affiliated, and by such conduct Inrratlate Itself . Into - the good graces of Its political friends. but that time: has: passed. Tne American people believe in fair play end In aeoordina; to every party, its just deserts. The paper that does this ' Is held In higher esteem than the one thai does not Every news psper, worthy of the name, exists for something higher and 'nobler than the mere success and rise of some political party. V . - '- PAYS FINANCIALLY. . "In my experience of conducting a non-partisan paper for ten years - X have found that It is veryi atis- factory from" a financial standpoint. Democratic and Republican dollars are ef equal value to me. During the last political campaign I handled an average of two columns per issue for both the Democratic and Re publican chairmen of ,rajr county at regular advertising rates, in; which they exploited the virtues fv their respective parties. . I do not believe my paper lost any of Its prestige and Influence by this course, and I know it lost nothing financially,; . Again, business men of all politi cal parties will patronise the adver tising columns ox a non-partisan pa per, while the n 'party ' organ' in small towns can only hope to get the patronage or its political friends. It cannot consistently solicit the business of the people It denounces in Its edi torial eolumns. . . 1 '. -; . HAS BEEN CRITICISED. -1 am fully aware that this nosi- tlon. is open to criticism and some times harsh criticism. L myself, have been made the target of some of the 'sharpshooters of the North Carotin regiment of newspaper men. Some of the Dtr-gunnerT la "thnr pretence. ; HE JOT WHAT HE KEEDED. T1 years .go It looked as if my time Ml come' says Mr. C. Farthing, of Mill Creek, Ind. Ten "I was o run flows that-life-bong en S T-ry (lender Uhread, It wss thn my 'drus-flat recom mended Electric fritters. I tousht a t-r-tle and I sot what I reeded trnpth. - I hud ooe font In the grave. tut i.ictr1c pttfers put It back on the turf nrhln. end I've been well er-?r since." ."!4 nnder guarantee at all drug stores, foe. during the last campaign- trained their guns on me for a season,-using such projectlh-s as Get off the fence,' Be Fish or Fowt "Don't try to carry water on both shoulder,' etc I think my course did more to win votes for good -government than theirs' did. While It is always pleasant to. have the endorsement of the brethren In the .position .on takes, a little mild criticism Is not without its value and should be appreciated accordingly; . i TOO MUCH 'POLITICS. O . . "I take It that no thoughtful man will deny that there is too much poli tics iii this country, especially parti san polities, for every two years or oftener. the Bute Is stirred to fever heat by an election, and the partisan politician aided by the partisan press causes estrangements and breaches la a community, and sometimes even In a, family. A chilling and blasting effect Is produced onaJl kinds of busi ness and the upward and progressive movements of the country are tempo rarily, at least, checked. The -frequent and Intensely hot partisan cam paigns have, la my humble judgment, done much to retard the .upbuilding and prosperity of our beloved South land. Therefore, I say (with apologies to Xlgh Hunt): , All hall the non-partisan (may bis '. . tribe .Increase) c , .' May we, awake- some night to a scene of. peace, - - 1 . May we see in the moonlight,, within our rooms. Making It rich like a Illy In bloom. ": An editor sitting by the table old. Turning out copy, both spicy and bold, r .s ..."- :: r-'-- And may the face of this" good man, Be the honest face of a non-partisan, . MR. DANIELS ' PROTESTS. "After a few announcements, Mr, Josephbs Daniels, editor of The Ral- eigh News- sndJObtjerver.'"rose' with the statement that he wanted to reply to some of the things which had been said against a partisan paper, and he spoke briefly, but vigorously of his opinion on this Important issue. . "I am afraid." said he, "that some of the visitors to this convention will go away . prejudiced against -a parti san paper on account of the fact that only one side of -the case has been presented through the papers already read. I have been waiting to hear a naper on the-other side of this Ques tion, and when t saw that nothing was going to be presented. I couldn't keep my seat ; I want to say that there are partisan papers In the fltate with as-much conscience ss an Inde- I l i,t 'I A 'J " -1 - - v - '- JOHN B. SH3UULI - - Etlltor of The Concord Times, and Secretary and Treaaiu-er of ? Carolina Press Association, pendent paper and are doing Just as great a work iu their respective fields. They sre doing the work of God Just as surely as any religious weekly. What Is politics? Some look upon politics as a mere macnine ana they , term partisan editors vile and vicious. I say that politics la states manship, and I believe that Journal ismr should stand for party" views. What is an-Independent editor Hor ace Greely was the greatest indepen dent editor in this country, and yet at once' the most partisan editor In America. Who are the great editors of ths State? They are such men as Major Hale, sitting there, who has been Issuing a parties n- paper for a long term of years, but who has not allowed a political boss ever to dic tate to him." :;: r ALL ADDRESSES SPLENDID, r The addresses at this session of the tonvention were of an exceedingly hlffh derree of excellence. .The au thors showed themselves to bave the comprehensive view of their work nec essary to the production ot ciean ana untremmeled newspaper literature. The essays reflected ths ability which ths . editors of North Carolina are known to Doswess, and which can bo seen to flash daily,, weekly and semi- weekly from the columns or tneir papers. There was no better attesta tion of their appreciation than in the fact that 'their fellow-laborers sat with patience and listened to the production of a programme unbroken by muslo or such a diversity of en tertalnmenU The applause was hearty, and was not of that kind which Is sometimes adjudged to be perfuno tory. It originated in a deep-seated appreciation. ; . -, ; ' The session which opened at :I0 O'clock continued until II: 10, adjourn ment then being taken for lunch. The assembly room of the Selwyn was comfortably filled at ths close of the session, many ladles being fn ' evi dence. Every facility and convenience had been provided by Manager Ed gar B. Moore. Stretched across os end of the hall was a big sign bear ing the words, iWe!coma, North Caro lina Press Association." The association re-convened at 2:t o'clock, the only feature of the pro gramme , be lug. the adaressof -third Assistant Postmaster General A. L. Lawshe,- of Washington. This, as an nounced, was to be followed by a trol ley ride over the city and suburbs, President E. D. Latta, of the Char lotte Consolidated Construction Com pany being ho-t. The exercises at the Presbyterian . College ' concluded the dsv proeramme. - ' ' - ADDRESS BY HON. A. L. LAWEJIE. Unauotionahly the event of . the day so far as the addresses were coo cerned was that of Third Assistant Postmaster General A. L. Lavshe. of Washington, whose subject was "The Postomco Department and the Legiti mate Publisher." Mr. Lawahe's com ing was looked forward to With a maximum of interest by the mem bers of the association, and to say that he measured ud to the expecta tions of his most optimistic friends but faintly ; expresses the - sentiments or. tnose wno neara nun. sir. is an expert In postofflee affairs, as his position amply testifies, and at the same time, . by reason of ths fact that he was a successful newspaper man himself for' many years, he is keenly alive to : the peculiar needs and problems confronting newspaper workers.- ; His - remarks therefore could not have been other ; than entertaining and instructive.,. .: . Mr. Lawshe - presents a fine ap pearance on the floor, is an easy speaker and possesses that happy faculty of knowing just bow to de liver an address so that It will not fall heavy upon bis hearers. Tall, erect, wltli clear eye and lofty" fore head, : and deliberate and concise in his manner, he could hardly be any thing other than a forceful : and interesting speaker. Aside from his Other capabilities, he possesses a keen sense ot humor, which he showed to marked advantage In bis address yesterday. A NEWSPAPER MAN HIMSELF., Mr. Lawshe. In Ms opening , re marks, referred to his earlyex periences as printer's "devil," com positor, Job printer and country editor for the purpose of IndicsCng that h li familiar , by practical experi ence with matters which affect pub Ushers' Interests, and to show that he has no prejudice whatever against the newspaper business. He assured his hearers that his sympathies are fwtth-- thiegitimate"-publrsher,,Iand"t that In his administration of an questions connected with the second class mailing privilege he would en deavor to deal fairly with those who are trying to do clean business in a clean way,, and who would not Inten tionally violate or abuse any privi lege granted to him under the stat ute. The speaker briefly stated ths rates of postage fixed by Congress on the various classes of mail matter the first-class rate of two cents for each ounce or fraction thereof ' on written matter or matter sealed against inspection; the third-class rate of one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof on printed mat- V ' -s j the North ler other than . newspapers and pa rlodicals admitted to the second-class privilege, including books, circulars, etc., . and the fourth-class rate of one cent per ounce or fraction there of en all matter (usually merchan dise) not embraced in - the other classes. The first, third and fourth class rates are for the general pub lie..' -' '' RATE - A4 SPECIAL PRIVILEGE. :The publisher of a newspaper or periodical admitted td the second class enjoys a rate of postage for his product not accorded to any , other citlxen or class of. citizens, or to, any other - industry a general, rate of 1 cent per pound and a free rats with in the county of publication under prescribed conditions.! r--' The next lowest rate of postage IS that granted to the general publio on mailings of newspapers and other periodicals which have been admitted to the second-class at the rate of 1 cent for each 4 ounces or. fraction thereof.-. The next cheapest rate Is that on books and other printed mat ter, of 1 cent for, each J ounces or frafctlon thereof. ; ? v , - JTha statlsttos of the Postoffico te partment show that there is an aver age of it sealed letters -to the pound! The business public and the people generally therefore pay at the rate of 4 cents per pound on their letters: tfhey pay an average of about 10 cents per pound on mailings of books and other printed matter, and about 10 cents per pound for merchandise, the government gaining ... over ... the ounce rate by . reason of taking ad vantage of ths fractions of an ounoe offered.:, , . -r. THE "EXTENT OF THE FAVOR. The extent of the privilege or favor conferred upon the publishers ef le gitimate newspapers and periodicals by the special rats of one cent a pound is disclosed In the fact that newspapers and periodicals enjoying the second-class mailing , privilege constitute 17 per cent of the matter carried In the mails, but yield only 4 per cent of the total revenues All other classes ef mall matter- the let ters, ths circulars, the books and merchandise, end under the fesnks nf members 'er Congress comprise t,ut prr csnv oi m total weight Of the malls and yield about it per cent of the revenue, A change in the rates of mall transportation will not affect this proportion, A change In the relative percentage of second elaes matter carried as compared with other matter would, however, af fect the expenditure for transporta tion, as the expense for carrying the mails - Is determined largely by weight V The cost of transporting and han dling second-class matter Is not yet definitely knewn. The most conserva tive estimate by , experts in V postal matters-: la that It costs not less than 2 1-i cents per pound : to transport it Jn the malls. ' Many compute It at not less than 4 cents per pound.' , 4 ; HEALLT , A SUBSIDY- ' t " . The second-class rate is in reality a subsidy a "privilege." as it is termed in the act of 190!. to be al lowed -only when-the terms under which it is granted are compiled with and to be continued only so- long as the conditions of the law are met.' It is-provided by statute that when conditions are not maintained the privilege may be annulled after. bearing granted to ths publisher. The statute in substance provides that a newspaper or periodical to- be admitted to the privileged second class rates must have "a legitimate list of subscribers," and, not be "de signed primarily, for advertising pur poses,", for "free circulation" or '"cir culation at nominal rates." . Ths law does not define a "legltl mats subscriber," "free circulation" or a "nominal rate," or the condi tions under which ths . primary de sign of a publication may be deter mined. That was necessarily left for the Postmaster General to do by regulations which under another-law ho la authorised to make. Two great abuses of the second class mailing privileges-arose, said Mr. 9Lawshe, "largely from ths car rying of expired subscriptions tor indefinite periods and from the old 100 per cent, sample-copy privilege that is, for every copy of his pa per sent to a subscriber the pub lisher, under the old regulations, was allowed to mall a sample copy at the second-class postage rate of 1 ent per pound." THE DESIRE OF THE DEPART MENT. Mr, Lawshe explained that the pol icy of the department is to cure, so far as possible under existing rlaw, some of the gravest abuses of the second-class mailing privilege, while imposing ths least amount of incon venience and annoyance to legitimate publisher those who do not at tempt to evade the spirit and pur pose of the law by padding their subscription lists with Xree subscrip tions, fake subscriptions, expired sub scriptions, etc.,'1 for the purpose - of securing a' wider field for the circula tion of advertising matter at Increas ed rates, , ..'.,'',,' " . On account ot the special rates ao corded to mall matter qt the second class. It should bo the cheerful duty of every publisher enjoying these rates to faithfully comply with the terms of the law, and a reasonable construction thereof, under which the privilege is granted. . Moreover, foe should not only refrain from Joining hands with the abusers, but on ths contrary he should stand firmly with the department in its efforts to rid the second-class mall- of Us abuses and thus justify the continuance of a low rate of .postage to legitimate pub lishers and. Indirectly,'- to the ' people. With such support the efforts now being put forth will succeed; with out it. failure and continued annoy ance and embarrassment to legitimate publishers are inevitable. A REASONABLE LIMIT. The essential features of the new postal regulations fix a i reasonable limit for the carrying of expired subscriptions-and reduce the sample copy privilege to 10 per cent, of the mailings of a publication to subscrib ers. It - Is believed that the end sought 'Is being ' accomplished, ' not only. without real hardship to. legiti mate publishers but,- on the contra ry, judging from the expressions of approval received from many of them, with beneficial results. : The legitimate publisher Is recog nixed as a public servant In the best sense o the term. He often docs a vast amount of real work for his communlt for which he receives lit tle or no reward. This fact appears to have been taken' Into considers-. tlon by Congress when it fixed this postal status In the law governing second-class man matter, wnicn con fers a special privilege upon the le gitimate publisher. ' , Mr. Lawshe's predecessor, 1 advo cated an advance In the second-class rate to 4 cents per pound, on ths ground that it was approximately the cost of the service rendered. .Notwithstanding the startling facta disclosed in the figures presented, the speaker defended the present rate of postage On legitimate news papers and periodicals, and indicated the opposition: of himself and Post master Genera! Meyer to an Increase provided ths legitimate publishers of tHe country stand with the depart- nt n Its snorts to cure abuses, A OREAT-EDUCATIONAL FAQ- ., TOR, Tho pound rate for newspapers and periodicals which meet the re strictions of ths statute was defend ed on the ground that they are the one great educational factor of our country In their true- Intent and pur pose as - recognised by Congress - in framing ths law,. Furthermore, so- ond-ciass matter originates, a vast' amount of first, third and four-class mstl matter.. -"That fact, however. should not be made the excuse for allowing all sorts of abuses, Ths conditions surrounding second-class postage were intended to directly fa vor the legitimate, and at the same time protect it from the illegitimate publication.---.....,.:.-... The rule, which obtained , for a number of years prior to January 1, isoi, in -regard to tne mailing of sample copies, was that with each Issue of his paper a publisher was entitled to mall' sample copies In number equal to ths number of his subscribers. - Many publishers were maintaining by reason cf this old rule a tremendous "circulation" and there by obtained high advertising urates because of the fact that they mailed an enormous quantity or -, samnle copies a number beyond all . tho bounds of reason when ths legitimate purposes for -which -sample copies may be sent are considered to ob tain from the recipient - a subscrip tion to the paper, or to Induce him to advertise In or become an agent therefor. - Such sample copies in tho past have been circulated largely for advertising purposes rather than for legitimate subscription purposes. , " THE SAMPLE COPY PRIVILEGE. Thousands of publishers have not used the ssmple eopy privilege to any appreciable extent, and others have used it to the extent of 100. per eent of a circulation already padded to the limit. . The normal newspaper and periodical publisher has used ths privilege only to the extent of a lit tle over X per cent i;.-.r :'-? , under. tne old regulation the malls were flooded with millions of copies of papers consisting of sample cop ies and -copies to those whose sub- scrlettons JiadlonrxplredwMcb. obstructed the mails and accumulat ed In - the p os to trices . because undo ilvereble. . - . In the light of ths facts above set forth It bas'been concluded that no justifiable or Jegal exception can be taken to . the new rule, which pro vides In substance that sample copies to tno amount er is per cent of ths weight of copies mailed as to sub scribers msy be mailed at the second- class rate, or I cent per., pound. A rule of this sort does not harm ths legitimate publisher, because the ac tual teat . showed that ' tho normal publisher does not Indulge In the sample copy privilege to the extent now -provided for. - The rule does, however, strike a serious blow at the publisher whose chief sjm.haa been to extend and pad Ms so-called cir culation for advertising purposes. , THE EFFECT OF THIS RULINYJ. Mr. ' Lawshe 'gave some truly start ling figures indicating the extent to which samnle codIcsi had been circu lating for advertising, purposes, . and ths decrease brought' about by the new regulations, and Invited atten tion to the fact that the benefit ot this new rule to the normal publish ers is made - thoroughly effective by providing that the sample copy privi lege shall be cumulative during a pe riod of one year that is to say. ths unused Quota of the samnle eoDy Priv ilege stands to the credit of the pub lisher throughout ths year-, thus en abling him to Increase his circulation at times when it Is most desirable. This cumulative feature was not al lowed under the aid so-called 100 per cent sample copy rule. If the 10 per cent sample copy rule does not serve the needs of the publisher, additional copies of his publication to any extent he may desire will be accepted for mailing at the transient second-class rate 1 cent for each tour ounces or fraction thereof which is ths rats charred the gen eral public on"mainngs of uewspa pers and other periodicals. The new) regulation limiting the sample copy privilege heve.ufre granted, seems to have been accepted In good faith by all eon-ped, ss hardly any protest against it - haa been received Jby the department It has taken out of the malls sines Jan uary. U-mllUooe ot conies of publi cations whose "circulation' for ad vertising purposes, was swelled to ths limit. THE RULING EXPLAINED. . The Postofflee Department has not attempted heretofore to deal by reg ulation with the practice on the part of svre publishers of mailing for an IndeC tits period papers to persons whos- subscriptions have ltng expir ed, which practice has bc-un tsken adventure of by many publishers whosjcdvtrtlsjng rates are Uised on a coitain "on culation" which' must be malntiiined, and no tu'et upon that subject were promti'icared. How ever, uuch rules were found neces sary u.iii hc.ve now been nialo under which a reasonable time will be al lowed publishers to iecurs renewals of subscriptions, but unless subscrip Southern Standard of Satisfaction MM GI0GLESSIARD Nature made it and made it right, the fust-right cooking-fat for all purposes, the economical substitute for butter. There's no JndjgeWlJwg jn its It's the pride of the South,- her leading ag ricultural contribution to the interna tional food-puritye W)W)CTWWW iagtr - i 'JiHff -iiiii' S r-'V- S .. .: you will be interested in the cost and nutritive' value of your food. ; r ; contains tfiegiratest - of - musde-biJLaclang,c bra i n -! F making material in the most digestible form and at the least cost vA food for the outdoor man and the indoor man for the invalid and the ; For breakfast heat the Biicult Ln oren, pour milk-OTer i (hot milk ia-matoml & little cream. If wAti 11. tV. rr.m.; r breakfast you whf like touted TR12CUIT (the Shredded Wheat wafer) fcr lur.chscn or any meal with butter, chtess cr tr.zrrr.z lade. ; At yew crocers. tions are expressly renewed eft-r tv term for which they are pairl, wi-n-ln'-prescribed period, they wiil rot be counted by the department in th legitimate list - of subscribers, and copies mailed on account s thereof shall not be acoepted for mailing at the second-class postage rate of one cent a pound, but may be mailed at ths transient second-class postage rate of one eent for each four ounces or fraction thereof, prepaid by stamps affixed.--, ..;':. -"' - - . The attitude of the department to ward the legitimate publisher is not one of hostility, and In framing the regulations an effort was made- to protect as far as possible the legltl- mate publisher, while at the same time curtailing the abuses which have been perpetrated in the past by publications which seem to be de signed more for advertising purposes, for free circulation and for circula tion at nominal rates than for ' the dissemination of information of - a publlo character in response te a bona . fide demand on the part of the pub lic. In framing the regulation gov erning expired subscriptions several factors or elementswere considered:. Time, frequency of issue, the more or less Intimate relation existing between : publisher and subscriber ss justify ing credit with knowledge of respon sibility, etc Like treatment nnder like conditions was the end sought, A FURTHER EXPLANATION. Ths regntattondoesTiorrTfequlrsi" payment ot subscriptions In advance, as soms newspapers have stated. It merely provides that subscriptions not "expressjy renewed" within a giv en time, -which varies according to the frequency of issus of the publication,-may not be counted in the "legitimate list of subscribers" re-' quired by- the- taw,snmhatrc6ples sent to such delinquent subscribers may not be accepted at the pound That languid, lifeleia feeling that cornea with spring and early summer, can be quickly changed to a reellpg ef buoyancy and -energy by the judicious use of Dr. Shnop's Restorative. , The Restorative Is a genuine tonic te tired, run-down nerves, and but a twm dose is needed te estlify the user that Dr. Phoop'a Restorative Is actually reach ing that tired spot. The Indoor life of winter nearly always leadi te Sluggish bewela. and te liieclsh circulation In general. The ruatomary lack ef exervlas and outdoor air lias up the liver, eteg--nates the kidneys, and oft-times weakens the Heart's action. tTse Dr. Sheep's Re storative s few weeks and all will be changed. A few days' test will tall you thnt you are using tne nht remedy. Tou will easily and suralv nets the ehenge from day to day. Sold by Mul len's pharmacy. ,2 y Why Not Mix ' Brains With , If you brains with youreatuur
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 23, 1908, edition 1
9
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