The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1872-05-10
A Word to Patrons and Friends.


To the end that there may be no mislnder-
standing with the patrons and friends of this
paper. il is due them and ourself that certain
rules ard matters be explained in tie beginning.
The value of country paper depends almost
solely upon its merits as a medium OF local
or home news The two or three first columns
of this page will be devoted to local news, per-
sonals ard complimentary and cominendatory
notices. The next column or columns VIII be
devoted 10 Cuisines locals or ''specials." In
no case do we admit ''pad for puff in the
local news proper; all notices found there are
gratis, complimentary or of a deserving char
acter as far as our Judgment warrants In the
especial notices" any one may put in as many
pufis, be they long or short, as often as he sees
proper, at the established rates. Compliment
tarv business notices and business puif5 are
given just in proportion to the amount Of adj
yertising done by the person receiving them.
This is simply right and strictly business. Col
umn and half column advertisers will demand.
and they are entitled TO consideration AT our
hands in proportion TO their patronage, while
the man who keeps in Il simple card should rot
special column. which is set in the same type
and occupies position along side of the local
proper.
One other thing. The ventilation ofperson-
al grievances and spleen through these columns
will not be tolerated, either as editorial or over
the signatures ofaggrieved parties. Long eX-
perience has taught US that personal sqaubbles
invariably detract from the influence and use
fulness of journal. and that such doctoring
only makes the sore the worse and in the end
the editor gets all the blame and loses the
friendship of both parties. If we must make
fight for a friend we prefer to have "a head
put on Us" and our nose knocked out Of shape
rather than take his ease into the columns of
the paper to the certain disgust Of nine-tenths
of its readers. We bring not our own person.
al grievances here, neither shall others. Which,
ever and wherever we find man or set Of men
imposing upon the public, or any official be-
traying the solemn trust reposed in him by the
people. we shall not be slow in pointing him
out and putting the facts upon record. This
is plain duty of the journalist who would
faithfully guard the public interest. In the
discharge of the last duty all good men will up
hold and sustain Us, when, if inyeiglcd into
the former. we should even go without their
sympathy.
These declarations of governing principles
have been called forth from already occurring
circumstances. and we desire to be understood.
We crave the moral support and approving
Judgment of all honorable citizens and honest
business men as far as may be. What we
mean by moral support is, when you think we
are in the right say so-praise your home pa
per rather than demolish it with criticisms.
Good will thus evinced is as necessary to the
success of the EAGLE rs money ltself-it Is
, virtually money. With it we will soon become
Il power in the upbuiding of your town and
material interests, otherwise we will be sub
jected to the menaces and expressions Of fac
TONS monied men, cliques and parties. We
did not come TO Wichita in the interest of any
man. or set, politically or otherwise, which
may as well be understood now as hereafter,
but to lend our mite in making town and
country full of pleasant homes containing hap
py. contented and prosperous people, and TO
establish paper that should command the
respect OF its readers and thus become a pow
er with the good for the truth and right through
out the great Southwest.