====== Commercialism ======

> There is no question that has come before us more prominently during the executive work of the past four years than how to lift the Publishing Department out of that condition into which it seemed to have fallen through the neglect of our evangelical work to build up the circulation of literature properly. It seemed to be understood to be a commercial work, managed by the publishing houses, using the people for building up their interests, instead of an organization of the people using the publishing house for furnishing the supplies and helping the evangelical work. June 1, 1909 (GCB 242.2).

> In addition to our large and more expensive literature, such as Protestant, Liberty, “State Papers,” and other books and pamphlets, we should have a series of appropriate small tracts which could be sold to our people very cheap—tracts that can be scattered like the autumn leaves, at a cost to our people that will be so small they cannot resist the temptation to buy them for free circulation. We have felt this need for years, and a number of times have resolved to provide it; but it has not yet appeared. Now, its need being so apparent, and the ways and means for its production having been more particularly worked cut, we hope this general council will provide for its early appearance.
>This literature is to be cheap only in price. It should not carry the publishing house and tract society commissions. It should go from the press to the people **at the actual cost of production, or less**. Our publishing houses and tract societies can well afford to make this line of literature a truly missionary work; for it will not only hold the ‘four winds’ for a season, but **will do more in creating a demand for other literature than any other one thing we now know of**. With a good assortment of cheap literature, it will be a comparatively small task to organize our people for its circulation. A steady stream can be flowing out at all times, and on special occasions it may be put out in large quantities." (GCB 319.10).