People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1897 — THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS [ARTICLE]

THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS

A Short History of Indiana’s Great* est Newspaper. Whatever excels interests. The loftiest mountain, the longest river, the largest city. Yet keener interest attaches to the greatest achievements of men —in oratory, statesmanship or war. The sharpest contest these days is be- ; tween newspapers, demanding the I greatest diversity of gifts, of knowledge land sagacity. In other fields the decision is doubtful, but in journalism the popular verdict is practically registered each day in the subscription list—a sort of Australian Ballot System. This test shows The Indianapolis News to have more bona fide readers than any other four Indiana Dailies combined. This makes good the above title head. The whole State nn.v indt* 1 ■' nridc in another point scored by The News: it is conceded to have move v u'cuianon proportioned to population than any. other American Daily. Whether this signifies greater enterprise in The News or a more intelligent reading people, or both is a question. No phenomenon exists without its adequate cause. The News itself gives two main reasons as follows: (1) When The News' began, twentyeight years ago, every other paper had Its political alliance, sla'ds'ilj cnpoua’.ng ono party with Its principles anil candidates against all others, looking to that party in turn lor support and patronage; tlie highest ambition was the organship of Its party In Slat. . district, county or neighborhood. Tin Newt 'believed that such relationship not only biased the editorial mind, but unconsciously, If not consciously, tinted and ootoi'ml tha news columns, leading to the magnifying of what tended to help, arid mlncmlzlnjf cr suppressing what hurl the party The News, therefore, swung loose from tUJ entanglements and blazed a new way absolute Independence, not, neiuiUtility, which means the oppo."’ :e; criticised men or no ires of either party; always took sides, with a choice oven 'between evils; da tlngulslioil between the freedom aud -lavery of Independence; not hesitating to ally Itself with either party In turn to bring -In iv forum or break down abuses. Whit this course meant no political patronage and usually the anger of both parti, - at the an mu time. It found marvelous response In the universal American instinct of Independent thought. It compelled respect arid opened the door for a:; Prs In the ranks of all parties. Tills meant preponderance of circulation, which. In turn, moans preponderance of advertising. (2> Tho News wus the first 2-cunt papor in the West, all others G cents. Against universal prophecy that it could not live at such n price, It Is now 25 per cent, larger, taking tho s' week day Isnueo together, than any other Indiana dally, and sells at 10 cents a week delivered anywhere liy carrier or mall, postpaid, against 15 cents a week, which Is charged for the next best Indiana dully. No other paper In the State, ut whatever price, now pretends to furnish eiiunl quantity and scope of intelligence—a volume of telegraphic news and correspondence from all quarters of the globe; a harvest of State happenings; mnrkit quotations for tho farmer and business man, averaging from seventeen to twenty-four hours ahend of all morning papers; abstracts of Supreme Court decisions for the legal profession; something for everybody—in amount to stagger credulity. It is estimated that not less than 150,000 people read The News every day. It maintains for the people cheap rate “Wanted” columns for advertising, by which millions of property changes hands annually without the owners ever seeing each other. Almost all have something to sell, buy, trade, or rent: a horse, cow, wagon, farm, mill or store, etc., etc. F-xpress it in as few words as possible, then count every word and send as many cents as there are words tiff The News and see the result.- Or if preferred write out what you want and they will phrase the advertisement for you and return with the price. Address THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS, Indianapolis, ludL No. 1, white seed oats for wale by M. I. A (buns.