Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-08-25

newspapers. It may be very consollng,
but not very wise, to lay it all TO the
people and scold away at them because
they do not appreciate their home paper.
Bat seventeen years study of the matter
mas convinced me that you can scarcely
hinder people from taking home paper
If, as in other things they buy. it ministers
to their necessities. There is really no
sense or reason in the superstition that the
law of supply and demand does not apply
to a country newspaper as well as TO q
country store.
Every newspaper has it's own environ
ment. To study the law that governs IN
each case is the part Of successful manage
| ment. To illustrates: Wisconsin is In the
main an agricultural state and the environ
ment OF each paper in such case must be
agriculture. The local newspaper can do
great deal for it's people and Indirectly for
| itself by devoting portion of its space, un.
der intelligent direction, to the necessities
OF it's local agriculture. Why should not
| this be done7 Let the editor organize the
forces that are about him and make his
paper give them voice. Become intensified
with the life they live and an active pro-
moter of their interests. Hemust not wait
| to be asked.
To be a printer is to be power among
the type. To be an editor is to be power
| among men. To succeed he must reach out
and take hold of their convictions, end
| where lack OF conviction prevails supply it,
and by contact mould them to an enhance
ment OF their own good. Ideas govern
everywhere, and ideals are founded on
ideas. This is the EDITORS field. To him is
| referred the task, in common with the pull
pit and the school teacher, OF enlarging the
understa ndipg OF the people. This great tri-
unvirate OF teachers constitute a solid pha-
lanx for the overthrow of ignorance and
vice. How painful then to see mummy in
/ either place wearing this armour OF the
gods.
| The Divine commission to all teachers is
| to teach men to knowgood from evil. How
can men know without thought, without
1 ideas, without knowledge? Look, then,
| this matter fully in the face and realize that
| the function OF the editor is the promotion
Of sound knowledge among his people. To
this end he must be a knowledgeful man.
Work is the greatest solvent OF destiny.
Intelligence is the great solvent OF work.
| The farmer subscriber must feel that the
editor is help to him because he gives
ideas to aid him in his work. So must the
mechanic, go must the merchant. the
| preacher, and the teacher. Every
newspaper radius in Wisconsin is a
typical community with all these wants
and impulses that need good editor to
help them along. How can he stand to his
| place, either for their help or on his own ad-
vancement, while he contents himself with
the ideal of mere publisher or printer.
| There ia a circumference to the calling OF
the humblest journalist that l fain would
have him more fully realize. 1t is
to this larger work and larger un-
derstanding of it, it's powers and
it's pleasures, too, that we must look,
as true journalists, for the rewards that are
to come to us as journalists. When Ispeak
of rewards, mean every thing from senti-
ment to finance.
How can men expect large pay for small
work? If ever accorded, it is an outrage
on the whole economy OF justice, and every
true instinct is against it. Yet, in face OF
this, there is to-day in Wisconsin a surfeit
of such work In the newspaper line, and,
astonishing as it may appear, a great deal
of grumbling that the pay is not large
enough. Is it not about time for some one
to speak up in behalf of a much-tried and
over burdened publicP Do we not owe to
ourselves and to that estimate in the mind
of the public that is to measure us ali, to
raise few degrees the standard of our duty
as journalists to the people we serve? Are
we not kicking against the pricks" if we re-
fuse to accord such consideration?
Go where we will, we find everywhere
exemplified in politics, religion, business
and even love, the truth OF that passage OF
Scripture which reads, THE liberal man
deviseth liberal things and by liberal
harvest better, | see no surer way than to
SOW more literally. This we will do of
necessity when we take a broader view OF
the true functions of newspaper. The
law OF surplus effort governs everywhere.
1t says TO the Christian-you must serve
your Maker for more than it is barely
worth to get into Heaven. It says
to the lawyer-if you are stingy
of your effort in behalf of your
client, and measure your duty to him only
by the amount OF your fee. you will soon
have no clients to serve. 1t says to the
statesman-if you are what you are, only
for the emoluments ofoffice, and have none
your race is short. 1t says to the preacher,
the teacher and the editor-if you have
none of the love of ministry in your soul,
no spirit of sacrifice that goodness and
bene6cence may prevail, your place shall
be given to ant Their; you are but the tail
ings of gold mime. A great many editors
have genius, but not talent. They can see
the man in the moon, but not the man In
front OF them. That talent which is in reality
the genius of common sense is greatly
needed. Common sense has been well de-
fined as ''the widest understanding possible
of common things.'' In this is involved life
liberty and the pursuit OF a delinquent sub.
scriber. all surrounded by al environment
J of common things, and talent, more than
editor comes the divine dictum, Earn youi
bread by the sweat of.your brow" Where
: there is none of the hard wrestling with
thought, no brow to sweat, the answer is
mighty little bread. We council the Other
workers to think more. Let us take kindly
to the same advice.
At the conclusion of President
Hoard's address, and after music by
the quartette, Mrs. Louise Phillips, o.
t Madison, read a poem which was re
, ceived with enthusiasm. It's subject
was "The EDITOR"
Who has to be both kind and wise,
! And newell, hardly ever lies,
And when he does excites surprise?
a The Editor.
Who always does good deeds by stealth.
Nor tries to dazzle with his wealth
OF brain and scissors, paste and health9
The Editor.