The last day of the year brings to hand the January, 1917, number of
the quarterly _Journal_ of a neighboring state historical society.
What the local conditions may be which render it necessary to be a
year behind with the publication of this periodical, we are unaware.
Reference is made to it by way of calling attention to a practice
which is all too common with respect to the issuance of historical
periodicals and other publications. If a quarterly must appear six
months or a year late it would seem to be a fair question whether its
appearance at all is worth while. If such delays are due to the
slackness or incompetency of the editor, the proper authorities should
apply a much needed stimulant. If they are due to conditions beyond
the editor’s control, reform (in the quarter responsible for the
delay) is still desirable. We suspect that commonly such delays are
caused by the state printers, by whom, at least in the Middle West,
historical publications are generally issued. We speak the more
feelingly on the subject because our own Society is not immune from
the criticism under discussion. The printer dallied for a year over
our most recently issued volume, while it required six months to get a
forty-page bulletin printed. It avails little for editors to be
punctual and businesslike in turning out their work, if it may then be
hung up indefinitely by the printer, with the editor deprived of any
means of amending the situation. Quite possibly state printers are
themselves the victims of a system the amendment of which is beyond
their control. Of this we have no particular knowledge. Wherever the
responsibility may justly be placed, the manner in which most public
printing is done in this country offers a severe commentary upon our
boasted American efficiency.