NEWSPAPER INDEPENDENCE MENACED

   Says the Wall Street Journal:

   "There are over 23,000 newspapers in the United States, and yet there is no other branch of business in regard to which such dense ignorance prevails as to cost and profit of production.

   "This is a matter which is fast becoming of public concern, for the character of the American press and its future influence as the protector of American liberty depend upon it.

   "Some extremely important facts bearing upon the cost of publishing newspapers in the city of New York have recently been given in a brief submitted by John Norris on behalf of the publishers. Mr. Norris is an acknowledged expert upon the subject of which he writes, having long been connected -with the business departments of leading New York and Philadelphia newspapers. He has made an exhaustive investigation, and his brief is a document of extraordinary significance. 

   "Mr. Norris does not hesitate to say that there is now impending over the daily newspaper press of New York the most serious menace that ever confronted it. This is strong language, and yet his statement of facts seems to warrant it. An additional burden of $3,000,000 a year in the expense account of sixteen daily newspapers constitutes the menace of which Mr. Norris speaks, but there is a larger menace than that back of these figures, of which account will be given later on. This $3,000,000 a year of added expense includes $2,160,000 for white paper, $600,000 additional for compositors, $200,000 additional for stereotypers and $100, 000 additional for other labor. Mr. Norris declares that no more than four papers out of the sixteen which he represents could make both ends meet upon such terms. He adds that these sixteen papers pay $1,600,000 a year in tribute to organized labor - that is to say, that is the additional cost of a closed shop over an open one. He is not antagonizing the closed shop, the principle of which he accepts, but he asks how long the newspapers will be able to meet these additional charges upon them.    ‘We are,' he says, 'approaching that limit where our necessities may force, us to stop.'

   " The Journal gives the testimony of one New York paper, whose expenses have increased 40 per cent in ten years and its earning power decreased fullyas much. The Journal continues: "Such facts as these are staggering. Unless conditions change, they point to very important changes in the character of the newspaper press. The liberty of the press is one of the safeguards of our civilization. It is essential under such a form of government as we possess that the independence of the press should be preserved. Independence is best maintained by the operation of newspapers for profit. Any other method of operation simply means a subsidized press. 

   "Joseph Pulitzer when he learned the cost of cutting down the price of his paper from 2 cents to 1 cent declared, ‘We prefer power to profit.' Either a newspaper is to be conducted for profit or else it becomes dependent upon some rich man like Mr. Pulitzer, who is willing to conduct it for the power it gives him, or else upon some rich man like Mr. Hearst for the political opportunity which it affords, or else the newspaper must be subsidized by the great corporation like the Standard Oil company and become not the independent organ of public opinion, but the subsidized organ of corporation interest. This is the greatest menace."

   What is true of the newspaper situation in New York must be true of the situation elsewhere to a greater or lesser extent. Everything that enters into the production of newspapers has increased in cost -- labor, paper, machinery, type, etc. Competition in the newspaper business has been so strong that it has often forced down the subscription price to a starvation figure. Many who expect to remain in the publishing business must either increase their price to subscribers, or become the paid representatives of special interests. There is reason for believing that many papers are already on the payroll of special interests that hope to profit financially by furtively molding public opinion. It is not a situation in which the American citizen who loves freedom of thought and who believes in the square deal, can find a great deal of comfort.

    Every newspaper ought to be uncontaminated. It ought to have a mission in the world above the wrongful use of its influence. It ought to have sufficient income in its own right so that it will not have to depend upon mercenary acts. It ought to charge enough for its services, and the public ought to be willing to pay enough, so that there will be no temptation even to be untrue to its great mission.