Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 132, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1918 — IS IT FAIR? [ARTICLE]

IS IT FAIR?

Wednesday the postmaster handed us a long notice in reference to the appointment of letter carriers for this city, and we were notified that we were to make no charge. Shortly after receiving this notice a person in the employ of the county come to our office and handed us a notice in Which the voters of the county were urged to register, but, said that no money was to be paid for its publication. , • The revenue of all papers is raised by the money paid for subscriptions and advertisements. We want to ask in all fairness, is it right to ask publishers to make these donations? Would it not be as fair for the

government to require the postmaster to pay for the notice out of his fat salary and the county employee to pay for the notice he wants printed free, as to ask the printer to make the donation? Would it not be as fair to ask the merchant for free merchandise, the farmer for free produce or the lawyer for free legal advise? Does this disposition to beg represent the sentiment of the people? Is the government a pauper or the county a bankrupt. Do the people who ask for this free service render a like gratitous service to the county or the government? There is not one bit of difference between asking the editor for a cold cash donation or a free notice in reference to some business matter. Every paper in the country is giving gladly and freely much space to the war activities, especially those in which giving is an important-part. This will be gladly continued. But we believe that the service we are asked to render in the conduct of the national or county business is as important and should receive as«just remuneration as the person who is in the service of the government or the county or the one who sells these institutions materials. It costs money to run newspapers. More now than ever before. Editors are in many cases human beings, having members of their families who eat, wear clothes and have other expenses similar to those of the common herd. They have employees to pay. Every one on the Republican force has had his wages increased. Paper, ink and all other materials are higher. Postage, express and freight rates have been increased. The conditions have become so unfavorable that many papers have ceased to exist. The Republican will match the liberality of any institution or individual to the fullest extent of its ability; but we insist that the government and the county have the right and the people are willing for them to pay a reasonable price for-.ser-vices rendered, the same as is required of private individuals or business concerns. The placing of the nation or the county in the attitude of a pauper or a beggar is misrepresenting the people, the majority of whom are fair and square.