Page:The Fourth Estate, July to December 1917.djvu/556

 SOUTHERN PUBLISHERS AND POSTAL REFORM.

THE STORY OF THE S.N.P.A. FIGHT FOR THE McKELLAR AMENDMENT-IT WILL BE CONTINUED.

The Southern Newspaper Publishers Association's Bulletin says:

"WaMuu Fawcett, wriUitt( iii Thk Fuuktu E»taik, in coauncnluig uu Ike 'bugHMtoo* of m incnaM in the aecood daw nte wkoa it wMenly bobbed tip once more when the War Reventw Bin Sraat to oonfernioef cer- tainly min't have a Suuthcm puMUht-r in iiiiiul when he said 'a number of pai>li»ber« received the ^urpri.-.c ol their hrc^,' they haviii|{ labored un- der dtt impreMioo thai the whole suhjuct wa> di^juied of tor good and all in the Senate.

"The committees of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, realizing ilut the tight had only just begun, did not padc their irqis and return home to look after their own pressing matters of deep interest. "In.Ntiail ihcy remained on the job. Members of the assotiation in clijNC tiiueli with the situation, realizing that tr.u limc liaJ am', eil ii-r re infurc«4nci>ls, livid a conference by tcicgraiah and long-disuncc telephoiu', irith the result tint a deleniian pronv«br went to Wailiingion, where f^r MfimL days ihey rendered Major Siahunan and bit oommittee valu»ble "Other menibcri wliu were in;i;le aware of the situation promptly fol- lowed suggestions iikhIl then, i|niii>; mhiic tt-lling and efTective work.

"The activities of the S.P.N.A. in its fight against the excess pr«Bt ux im4 iMwais ■ in scomd cUsa poasnte rates was in Ibc opinion of many not »itlii>ut helpful results, although the rL-p.jit rceLMiiiiitnding a new xone s)steui in iicu of the House louc tax ttiHi.isrs burdens which, tu ibe opin- iun ul menibcrit ui the a*^w>ciiititMi, abai>cii. "This fight had Us <>ni::n In the SJ4.P,A. wbcn a mutiui) w.is madi! at the nwcliog Lif the executive oou- aiMtae at Cbatianniga. Fcbttiafy 13, 191un of dw Bir- mingham News that teleirranw of jm- lest be sent the i'.l ^outbeni Seaalors aitatn^t the rider providing for Vj cent i»er jxjujtd tneicase in «ccr>nd elas:* rale?>. whicli ».is then incijr]><>- raltd in the I'ost Dthcc and foil Roads Amroprutinn bills. "C. F. bUtun, editor of rhc Uiac- t»Bon|» Mewih wiio met with the die td^paoi, vhia teUowti ■ •■ascadw nowinn .«i SoaOeni Nn^Macr Putiiiihesa AsiSctoUoa., In lietorc _ have hf enor- TM Ihe fact IM iwvi gfcai burdens pIsvMl n iiMUH iiicTcaw in ta^ of wUic paiwr, and in all lytticr riciicn5i'!i of publication. llltlH|rrii-rd uUI ut Irtisi- nets and uth«^r« i,r •! jlily wdl tfc if ad- ditional liltrdrltk ;iir lll,|,.J>.<-J "We ;>rtittst aKam^l ni'f'-i- 'i [i -timl liimtage under hifl rci,i.in,J !,v ", tTi.e committee in Srnalr. .Sutinriiituuin air paid for Urffrljr in advance ana with nu ■nljcsMlion of Mic-h an tii«rraic in fH>«ta4[(-. If aavaiMe is fMUid aSiiolutcly neco mn «n ssComI diH^paMifle wc believe msic uMcn M he umr nd wCI not bn^OM such najual tafrdrnii.* WUKK FOa U'KELLAK AMRXnMBNT. "The tclraraol,, when rcid in the Senate .Iqr Senaior Kenneth Uc- KeHtr, |nade.a.ierMir'hBprMpia9^ Pn Pebraaiy It the Senate, by* .a- vote of IT Id Mi rrriiKi'd In •.iiniiend its roles and penmi .-iti-.L-hiiK-nt t,i the Pmn Otiet .ti|in.|.n.i;H.n b;li i,f Ihe amerldmrnl trK-TiMiinif llie s»fHniI dasi popt.igc rale. "It was thought then that the mat* ter was disposed u( until the 'finance conmittee of the House reported a aiodi6ed lone qnten jshanging hi BialMM IwiMe tft* OtiiilMl Moon proMMntion. "No !w>4»n^T h-^it (he Kilchin Kll hrcn pA!5*rtl hy the Ilmi^r. carry inR the nii'ilifirr .MiKcilar of Tennessee as an

anicnduiLut tu the W.ir Kevcnue Bill and as a siilistitiitc lar the House xone plan. "This .MeKcllar ameadaicat com- pletely wiped out Ihe eMOM f*e9f* feature and provided a reasonable lone s>->!ein to the end th.!'. the pr«- enl rate of postage of "-f ^e'-' I'tr jwjiind &h<>tild not be irteieascd -.v-.;iiin the hnit zone of 3UU milea. "At the annual convention of the association in Asbeville, M. C, July B-ll, after diseussiag the sections of the bill relaUng to second class poalage and eaeoM |ic«il% the follow - am naobnioa was passed and *at m the form of a telegram sad sent tu the nicnibers, to their Senators and Rrprr!»pnt.^:ive5 uf their respeclive slateM and lu nhairmen of cummttlces, the National lidiUftel AsSOelatiOtt in session in .M I n Dcapeliai and to n num- ber of others : '* 'The iiculhcrn NcwHiaprr Pulili3brr* Anociation, composed of loti of the lead ing itail^ nrw^t^prrt of ibe S,,-,itli. in L-unvciitii^n avKmhied lodar, uiiAiuiiiou-ily )iaA»ed a rctoliilion rajirrnAins I lie kr,-ti. r">l -"yiitiialhy with the Ouvt'rt.mciil'ii ii'-^'ii ill IIk ;,lr,-:nt r^I(j|,)dil.j:y II ..ll- Uatr,,:,. t:,. :ri, ,-l . rtMlUlill * i 11 iHStl-j .1^ to eulyjieiatc ill raisina the ncceuai/ ailiti- liunal rmniws, and Unir dcain M sund their iisst and fair prepartiotl ut Ihe in cnaard laiatim. iveonon* idwcvt voiced the upJnIoB dial a* imoiMed extra lax on the net mrenncs of ; newspapers, ubifh d<.r» luii apply (• other lines of iiusiiM «,i, M un;u!it, unfair and discrini inaliiry. ■' "III rrlrrriice to the prD|iDsed inrrraNf in ircur.d class posLsHe rates, link ji'*, •aalioii twlirvr* lliat it has no plite in i reviiMK bill, and the |:,iLf|»er ralr <,r mtri* -ihoulil ttc basis is the zone systrni. the theorr of which is fully outlined in Srnatdf MrKellar's amendment, with thr tirr»rf-itt rate a^iplying f»» Ibr fir« SUU mites, which invrstication has shown iilriii,!y affords the Government a pro^l, and increasing rates tor lonser distances, in pruporliiill to the c<>st to the Giivern- anent for servicei l< ndrrn] i-nldishers.' Tll« COKMlrrEIL "A eommirtee was appointed con- prising Major E. B. Stahlman of Nashville: Colonel Louis J. Wortli- am dI K.irt Worth; Robert Ewing of New Or;e.nn». assisted by Urey Vo.'iJsun of Owrnsihiro. Ky.. and la., who at once went to Wasbingtoa and took cbatge of tha Hgfat. It cneoMMered a iftanile and aeeniingly jiowerf ul lt _^ luff the inagaziaes and periodicals and favoring the Senate plan. "Led by Major Stahlmaa of the N'ashv-ille Banner, the ground work was laid. Major Stnblinan durins the l.ut week oi August propared bis brief, skaminff conclusively, Imucd ufun rcpartt from the Ist Office I)ef>artmcnt, that the ni^i rru/'rr ptftl- afe did not caiue a deficit for the Ltuz'trnment, bnJ, on the contrary, a t-roftt, but that Ike citrrjine of mag- armes and periodicait ctuuti Ike lini and nor a dead expense lo the Gov- itnment. "Major Stshioian took the position that Ihe Bew SiWPe r s of the coun- try were not and have never been waixU of ihe tJov rrntiient. and arc asking nnthmif evcrpi m i.iy their projH.rtMna'.e part (>t tht exprnst^ of the w.tr and a doll.ir i,'T a dollar's wtirlh id service in drli ,e: Mii.; llieu (ntblitnitions. nothing more and norh- lilt; less. "This brief of the committee cre- ated attention in Imth branches of Concresa, and resulted in the McKel- l.ir Amendment iK-ing adn^ied by the Senate ci,mTniTl<-e iif t.le whole. ihouKh it lo%t by k:x vntes when iie- tore the Senate iirupcr. "Undaunted by this temporary de- feat. Major Stahlra.an remained on tbe gniund ai>d was again rcinforeetl by Messrs. Wotlhain and V'i»od»on anrl later by Messrs. Robert S. Jones, Aaheville tN. t.'.) Citizen: John A. Psrk, Raleigli iN. C.) Times, and Wade Harris. Charlotte (N C ) Ob. server, who rein.iinei] until the fight was concluded. MaCAZtNi: oreosiTioN. "Tke maga-inet end periodicals used et ery Jei-iee to zvorp public opinion, even iiisiilinti that tke re- tigioMs press iif tke eonulry would be exterminated, reken, as s snafter of fact, the MiKellur sSMOdllMM did not elect it. such betttQ am&mded from its provisions. "In cvndtscting the fight the com- mittee, led by Major Stahlman, worked incessantly and indefatigably. The briefs were ilistnbitted, every editor and publisher of a daily newa- p.iper in the United States, sonic l.>*'t'i in number, was written a per- snn.il litter, and the forces of the news|>aper world mobilized to iecurc justice and tn escape the onerous .ind unjust rate and tax pn^Kiseil. ".t the same timc thc association he.idquarteTS oiiice. in cluse t^ t.i the sitnatien aeeuriot walividrd or collective eoeperatien whenever necessary. Tho IMtnifaners of the country owe a debt in gratilude to Major .St.ihlman aiMl hit enmmiitee, who have thus fir waited the contest at '.:'.ir own epent,e .ind n».itlay. pay- iiiL' out of their own poi-ki ls for print- ir-k', poslafic and distrilKitmn of rhr briefs and the present enonuaus ho tel bills in Waanington. "The newspapers nf the country owe a jNirticular debt to Senatnrx Hoke Smith of Georgia; Shields and McK^lar of Tennessee; Robinson of .Ark.inMs ; riiirililn ad and rnderwon..! ol Aiafwrr.i, iml M.iTiiri ot Virsinia. fur the aliam U)^'nt^ ni'Ic to secure justice lo t iu riLiv .paprrs 7'A<it Ihe fight xt-iil I'r ( ,otf',)ri<-.j along even more vigorous lines tkert is no dvubl. 'The newspaper publishers in the Senate as a rule oopmed thr McKel- Ut AaMndnent, dtiubtlcss following this eoune rather than brinu enti- eism upon their course " I lie .Senators fr<iTn big nuiiatine Bubli.shinif centers, such as .Senators Wadsworth of N'ew York: Lodtfe of M.TSsochusetta. opjKxcd the MeKcl- lar amendinent. and. led by Senator Weeks of Ifaasuchscits, favored do- ing aolhint at this tiaie." NO MORE DELAY IN WAR NEWS. iioLui.Ni; li.^t K OF .^^•TII,LES REPORT IlKlNliS i'ROMISE FROM StC Y UA.SIKLS. Secretary of the Navy Daniels lias taken occasion to eapress bis regret that when the news of the sinking of the Antilles reached the Navy Depart- ment on October IV there Bad been such an unwarranted delay in making the facts public He explained that It h.td been held up in parsuani-c to the > I rj^irt mental I olicy not announcing; cviualtics until the rclalivea of men dying in ac- tive aerviea eonld be iofornsed. In this iastsnce he said this ddsy wss wholly unnecessary and that different in- structions would gidde hia pnUieitr advisers in the future. The first news of the dts.isler came l'» the War l->e[,artiiient in .i liricf cable me»,'i>:e from CieneraJ I'craiiing between 'Ji .on] 4 o'clock p. in. Secre- tary ii.iker gave directions that the message should be given to the press inunetfiately. Shortly thereafter Ihe Navy De- partment received the longer message from Vice Admiral Sims. Secretary Daniels went immediately lo the War Department for a consulation with Secretary Haker, and as a result of this it was announced that no state- ment concerning the news would be available until 7 o'clock. .t the time Ibis annnuncemcDt was made nothing was known as to the exact nature of the news cxcrpc tO a few officials of the War and Navy Departments. It was indicated tluit baa news had come, but officials de- clinwl to .lay anvil;:n» further. They wcHild not Li tirjio: the geaenl SO^ position .among newspaper nea that a transport had been sunk or furnish even s hint as to nrhat had hap:iened. I'rior to 7 o'clock, however, uic suIh stance of the infomstioa l e ee ieed from General Pershing and Viee- Admiral Sims had gotten out ,ineen t rpt-d,,!-!! .,ih! Mink and that 117 men wtre n :sor,to The War Deparlmcnt. the Navy Deiiartnient and the Comoiiltee on i'ublic Information declined lo con- firm Ibis. Ufbcials refused to gu fur- ther than to say that an aanoaaccnent would be made by the Onninitlee on Publie lnform.i*ion .-|! 7 o'eloek. . ;ir, niise was given t.> explain the reason fi.,r the delay when the an- nouncement was made. Hrfore 7 o'clock the news ro.iiii ol the Commit- tee on Public Information was crosr- dcd with RcwsMicr aicn. They aur- rmmdrd the ofneial of the Bnreau who was to give the news. M evact!> 7 ,r .lock this oftirial otK-ni-d a dr..*t r .,I his desk anil took foo-i it a Inind't of iiiinit-.ii;r udled ro|.trs of K-e-.,lnar.i! .Situ s ilispalch. which he handed to the newxfuper men. These cojiies had been prepared some time in advance. When Ihe promised explanation for the delay was askni for, an nfhcial of the Committer on Public Information s.iiil "'. 'ti.lci 'It.- pT.u tice and custom of the .ay Ue|»^utment the inforinatinn as to lite, tiIleH w is not made pub- lic until fair o|>iinr:iinitv had been Svea to notify Ibe next of kin of eoe lest in the t
 * jf.n.velte Yuun*;. Jr.. .>f Ues Moines,

FIRE CAUSES DAMAGE. DainaKe estimated at $2ii.immi done t«i the plant of the riitsbtirs Chronicle-Telegraph by lire, caused by the exidoaion of a gasoline can.

ANOTHER ONTARIO SALE. R. H. D.nvis f. riio r publisher of the St. Marv'-i t<Mi,. ;i;is purchased the Uxbridge (Unt.) Tiatca.