The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-07-02
TIE WORK AND WORTH OF COUNTY
PAPER

| TIE WORK AND WORTH OF COUNTY
PAPER
The county paper, as We would havc it
IN the campaign, should be conducted on
strictly business principles. The space
occupied and the work done should be paid
for by the parties and politicians precisely
as is done by merchants. or course this
has reference only to the business depart
ment OF the paper, and not to the editorial,
which is conducted. or ought to be, wholly
independent Of the financial question. This
would put it on basis enabling il to do
efficient and satisfactory work. Eschew.
ing cheap advertisements its space could be
devoted to reading matter instead, and suf.
hclent editorial help could be employed to
have this matter properly prepared. 1t, is
the tasnion III some quarters to say that
many country papers are of no value in a
campaign. This is an error. Every party
paper published, without exception. is of
value to its party, if it does nothing more
than advertise its meetings. The man who
does not take his county paper is outside
Of the circle of political Intelligence and.
largely, of political influence. He usually
hears OF campaign meeting after it is held.
lie never makes vote. Indeed, he is for
tunate If some one other than himself does
not control his own vote. He is apt 10 be
hauled to the polls on election day. A
party that is so foolish as to nominate n
man OF this class for office-and it is some-
times done-always finds that it has an
incubus on its hands instead of a helper.
and he is usually beaten in the end.
AS rule, country papers arc making
every possible effort to fully meet the lust
demands of the public. The conseouenc .
IS that their improvement is marked and
rapid. l believe that this is the case in
every community that has the wisdom and
the sense tc properly appreciate aud reward
sucn effort. A good paper is as sure to res
pond to liberal patronage as the grass
docs to generous rain, and the county
that Will not give such patronage ought
not TO have any paper at all. Let such
counties remain in darkness, unless YOU
wish to do the work of missionary. and
saiter his bardships and prvations.
= Inc worst load that country paper has
TO- carry is the would be great man. You
all know him. Hc expects you to call on him
each week and get the cue for your editorials.
"A complete record must be kept of his goinps
and comings. He likes to see the prefix
"Hon." attached to his name. When he
takes snuff it is public, outrage if you don't
sneeze. When he makes speech, however
trivial, you are expected to publish vcr-
batIm report. If he has as aspirations-and
he always has-you arc to push him with
all your power, and when he is defeated
as he usually is-it is your fault, of course ;
and from that time you have the bitter
enmity of both himself and his friends.
The really meritorious fellow citizen with
aspirations is he who leaves it to your own
voluntary judgment as to what you shall
not do, and who not only appreciates but
reciprocates in every proper way the fayors
that you arc abe to bestow on him.
There arc some who, while conccding the
power and usefulness of a country paper,
yet, through some strange perversity, are
constantly gripping it. They expect it to
compete in price with metropolitan Jour.
nails, which enjoy large advertising patro-
mage at enormous prices, and which are SO
located as to have extensive fields from
which to draw subscribers or with that
other local paper, whose only ambition is
cheapness instead of quantity or quality,
and whose columns are largely monopolizcd
by cheap advertisements.
They bring you )tuary notices, resolutions
in memoriam, church and society notices,
all to go in. free, and then wonder why it is
that you are not able to publish paper
equal 10 the New York Times. presume
that they abound in every community.
No one gives SO much to the campaign as
the publisher of county paper. lie is
constantly at it, not only giving his services
as an editor aud publisher, but those other
things for which he should have additional
and prompt pay. His support to his party,
to be effective, should not be mechanical, and
for this reason his opinions and Judgment
ought to largely prevail in making up the
ticket and in managing the campaign. In
this way his mind is enlisted as we'll ss
hand, and what he does is a work of love
and devotion to his party principles.
Wherever this is the case, our party is sure
to win in the end. 1t my take years of
effort, but the result is as sure as that light
follows knowledge.-New Harmony Regis.
ter.
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