The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-03-04

sToRY'-THE SOUTHERN CITIZEN
JOHN mitchell AND THE LEGIsLA
TOR MATTERS OF COURTESY ALI
BosH-PUBLIC OPINION ALL TIA,
IS NECESSARY TO ABATE THE NUS
ANCE. ETC, ETC.
, Feb. rs, 1874.
/ wish to add my feeble endorse
ment to what has already been sale
in praise OF your bold, Outspoker
course on the subject of the Dead
Head" system-especially as it ap
plies to conductors of newspapers
The newspaper is power in the laad,
and it is to be regretted that so many
editors appear to be either uncon.
scious or regardless of the weighty
responsibilities which rest upen them
as the mouth-pieces-nay, to a great
extent-mOulderS Of public opinion.
No editor should place himself in a
position wherein his independence is
in the slightest degree compromised,
or which may be construed as affect
ing that independence,--for by so
doing he is sure to weaken his in
fiuence with all right-thinking men,
1t is in vain to say that the free pass
is given as compliment in return
for services rendered in the publica-
ton Of timetables, &c. If these
time tables are matters of general
interest to the people Of the section
in which the paper circulates, then
the editor should publish them as
items of netCS-and never think of
charging for them, If, on the other
hand, the Railway company desires
publicity given to matters of bust
ness-advertising, in short let them
pay for it as other advertisers do.
Under the present system, every ed
itor receiving free pass. enabling
him to ride on the cars at his pleas
ure. over the whole road, feels in hon.
or bound to have something to say
after every "free ride" about "the
able and efficient Superintendent"
or 1.-THE Prince of Railway Presi-
DENTS" or "Lhe worthy Treasurer :"
or again: "Our friend, Tom Jones,
conducted us safely over the --
railroad day or two since. Tom is
model conductor, as we'll as a fell
low of infinite jest. and most excel
lent fancy'-and he illustrates the
sagacity and knowledge of human
nature of that prominently distin-
guished railroad President, Colonel
Doodle, who is ably seconded in his
herculean labors by his faithful and
penetrating Vice President, Major
Coodle to say nothing of the ever
present and tremendously active SUI
perintendant, Capt. Doodle! Long
may they wave p
put it to the candid reader if the
above is not fair specimen of the
balderdash which we frequently find
in village weeklies-not to speak of
metropolitan dailjes, with their col
umns Of old news and stale adver-
tisements = sometimes printed on
both sides, to fill up.
The subject reminds me, as the
+" late lamented'' used to say. "of a
little story" You remember the
" Southern Citizen" published at
Knoxville, years ago, by Mitchell &
Swan. Well, on a certain occasion
our friend, G.. r., was in the Office
engaged in a warm dispute with
Swan, in regard to the general con-
duct Of the paper-which c. conten-
died was too much given to long and
tedious editorials about the king
OF Dahomey," and the fondness Of
that potentate's subjects for snakes
and lizards and other creeping things
as articles of diet. Swan was laugh
ingly arguing the point. in his ac-
customed good humored manner,
while G. was very much excited
when Mitchell stepped in and desired
to know what "was the matter?'
Swan explains" Well. you see,
Bullen is in town, and c. is anxious
that some notice should be taken of
his presence in our midst"
mitchell. the devils Bull
en?"
c. hast cned to reply that B. was
a member of the Legislature from
- county, and a stanch Democrat,
in short, one of the local lesser lights
of eye great Democratic party !"
hence c. thought that some men,
ton should be made in the Citizen of
BIS advent in the city, with COM
plimentary allusion to his distin-
guished services, &C.
mitchell, lin his usual quick, nerv-
Gus style)-" oh, yes! know just
what you want Bullen is in town.
BulIen is trump! We took a drink
with him ! ! Long may he wave and
may his shadow never grow less y!
How will that doF'
c. left the Office in utter disgust,
while Swan and other bystanders
were convulsed. But Mitchell sat
down quietly and commenced writ
r. -. a. e