HOW THEY DO IT IN WASHINGTON
BY HERBERT J. CAMPBELL,
Publisher of Vancouver Evening Columbian
[Mr. Campbell, who followed Professor Fred W. Kennedy of the University of Washington on the program of the recent Oregon Newspaper Conference, described the Washington plan of state organization and told of Mr. Kennedy's work in carrying the gospel of efficient publishing to those whom lack of system was pushing toward the edge of failure.]
AFTER having heard Mr. Kennedy I know you will agree with me when I tell you that over in Washington publishers are very fortunate in being able to call on Mr. Kennedy at any time for help. Mr. Kennedy is the field man for the Washington State Press Association. I want to tell you that I believe that we should have an Oregon organization based somewhat on the Washington plan. Chiefly, this revolves around having a field secretary, a man who can go out to the country publisher and sell him his own business, teach him how to run his business, and show him where he is falling down. Not only that, we have over there the entire state press working together. The executive committee, of twelve men, travelled 3,000 miles this year, and every one of them was there to attend the executive committee meeting. They come from all parts of the state.
Group Meetings Held
Now, the state under the plan that they have there is divided into twelve groups, and as nearly as possible one of these directors is in each group. Each has its group chairman, and these men hold monthly meetings. To every one of these meetings one of these directors goes at his own expense. However, I believe there is a provision that his expenses should be paid by the association, if he wants to present a bill. But those men are working for the other fellow, and a large percentage of the publishers are paying for this themselves by vluntary assessments of from $1.00 to $25.00 a month paid to the Washington State Press Association, and it is giving them some funds so that they can go ahead. I do not know whether that plan is going to be continued, or an assessment made of a flat rate. It is one of the things we are always bringing up.
There is one man over near the coast who was not sold to this plan for a number of years. He went over there and bought the paper. It was a good bit of money for him, and at the end of a year he found he could not make it go. Finally he called in "Pa" Kennedy, and Kennedy told him what to do. He went through the man's books and gave him a big jump in advertising rates. The man said, "They won't stand for it," but Kennedy said, "You've got to have it or you won't exist." That man was finally sold, body and soul, to the organization. He realized that this organization really does things for the publishers. It was not only Kennedy that went and saw him. Other directors, everybody, went and told him about it. Kennedy calls these boys his detectives. And that man made $11,000, I think it was, in one year—I think the first year after he put this in effect. He still ran a very substantial solid business, and he is able now to go out and tell the rest of the boys how he is doing it. He comes to our group meetings in Vancouver and Clarke county, and has attended several group meetings in the last few months. And we have had men come over from Sunnyside, Ellensburg, Montesano and Seattle. These men come down
