Labour Newspapers

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane March 17, 1894

THE EDITORIAL MILL.

Our Motto: “Socialism in our time.”

The establishment of a “Labour daily” has occupied the close attention of many unionists ever since the close of the strikes of 1890-91, during which the capitalistic daily newspapers with one accord threw the whole weight of their tremendous influence into the scale against the strikers and in favour of the employers. The idea has a great charm for those who consider the stupendous power wielded by writers who daily pour into the minds of their readers fallacious doctrines which delay to a disheartening degree the advancement of the cause of Humanity. “If we only had a Labour daily to nail the lie the moment it appeared !” If we only had ! The if and the only are too much for us. A Labour daily to be successful and true-and unless true it cannot be a Labour daily-must have some thousands of pounds at its back from the commencement. At least ₤20,000 is calculated as necessary for an evening daily; ₤30,000 for a morning newspaper run on the usual lines, and relying on much support from advertisers.

A Social-Democratic Labour newspaper could not be positively certain of getting any advertisements. We know it is said where the circulation is, advertisements are bound to be readily obtainable. That is not so in all cases. The WORKER has a larger circulation for a single issue than any other newspaper in Queensland, but owing to its Socialistic policy the advertiser, generally speaking, would rather lose a pound by advertising in a capitalistic newspaper than spend a shilling in the WORKER or in any journal holding similar straight-out views. Fully ₤20,000 would therefore be required to establish with any prospect of success a straight-out Labour newspaper. The very best talent would have to be engaged in all departments, literary and mechanical. In every respect the Labour journal would have to emulate its contemporaries in furnishing its readers with the news of the world. Otherwise it would not sell and would soon come to grief.

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A splendid effort was made in Sydney during the past nine months to secure the necessary capital to float a company to print a Labour newspaper whose policy should be unionistic and social-democratic. All possible care was taken to guard against the domination of those who possessed large capital, and almost super-human efforts were put forth in a city which afforded a better opening than any in the colonies , to bring the prospect to a successful issue, but want of money has caused a delay which almost suggests failure. There appears to be only one eminently successful method of running a Labour newspaper, viz, that by which the WORKER is produced. The unionists, organised in a powerful federation, purchase their union tickets at a given sum, a certain proportion of the total of which is forwarded by the Union secretaries to the WORKER trustees every three months, the unionists in return getting a copy of the WORKER every week. The present issue of the WORKER costs about three shillings per man per year, each paper costing about 1/2d., not including postage.

To bring out a daily newspaper on the same plan as the WORKER each man in the unions would have to pay 18s. per year. As it is impossible to collect such a sum at the present time, a daily Labour newspaper is beyond us in Queensland. Our efforts must therefore be to improve the present WORKER as far as we can, strengthen the unions as much as possible, and proceed as rapidly as circumstances will allow to increase the size of the paper.

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For the first year of its existence this journal was brought out monthly; then it appeared fortnightly; another year, and it made its appearance as a weekly and slightly enlarged. In June next it will appear still larger. Regular and sure progress is being made on sound lines. The unions find the money and control the policy. The paper is not dependent on advertisers, and can talk straight. Next year the unionists may be in a still stronger position, and perhaps able to contribute 5s. each per year. If so, the WORKER can be extended to the limit of the 5s. Carefully picking our steps in this fashion, we may, in a few years, be able o produce a newspaper which will come somewhat nearer the anticipation of the bushmen who are so proud of their little newspaper that they wish to see it “the most popular weekly in Australasia”; and which shall exercise a great power in a moulding political thought in Queensland proof against the sophistry and misrepresentations of all the capitalistic dailies.