Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-08-26
ANNUAL ADDRESS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - 1t is a custom Of
this association to elect president and once a
year do pennance for the sins of a twelve month,
by listening with more or less interest 10 what he
says This Is done to impress us that the occa-
sion is not one of unalloyed pleasure but in
every pound of sweet we must expect an ounce OF
bitterness that Haman can only be properly I'M
derstood by considering Mordecai; that the hori
zon of editorial happiness should include rugged
mountains as wsl as delightful plains.
First OF all let me congratulate this association
upon its good fortune in being set down in the
midst of people of such generous Instincts
Marnette is a city OF lumber, 1T is builded 10
the company OF great trees and the IN sound OF
running waters
have always noticed that such associations
have broadening and harmonizing effect on men.
They haven't tn. brick and mortar cast of coun
tenauce. We could expect, then, nothing less
from such people, than the warm and cordial
reception we have received. For this we feel
grateful.
If / make use of this occasion V speak TO them
plainly concerning certain matters pertaining to
the business Of making newspaper am not
satisfied with my own efforts, and still further |
am not satisfied with the ideal that prevails gen
orally.
The outcome of all human effort can be guaged
by two things, viz: the ideal of standard which
measures that effort and is the source Of it, and
the energy with which the ideal is carried to com
pletion / believe the country Tress of Wiscon-
sin ought to be, in justice, a hundred times more
prosperous than il is and just as firmly believe
GUS is because the standard or ideal by which il
is fashioned is below the grade of success Old
notions have been accepted to the hurt OF pros
perity one of these is that journalism and
type.setting are kindred, and the latter is the
foundation OF the fir t. AS a consequence we
have surfet of the type sticking ideal or stand
ard for the newspaper. There is an abundance
OF bonn printers and few born journalists, the
same as there are thousands of carpenters and
but few good architects.
That inner consciousness or instinct that guides
Al. frna ag.rtr IL .uFla
times upon untracked space, that tells almost I'M
errngly that lthis way will lead TO success, and
that to disaster, is not born of the making Of
dove cotes or the art of Npe-settiug. Yet in the
convictions and practice of great many country
publishers the latter is the governing ideal
Hence we have so few really prosperous news
papers 1t may be very consoling, but not very
wise TO lay it all TO the people and scold away
at them because they do not appreciate their
home paper, If as in other thingswRey buy, il
ministers to their necessities.
There is really no sense or reason in the sup
position that the law Of supply and demand does
not apply to a country newspaper as well as 70
a country store.
Every newspaper has its own environment To
study the law that governs in each case is the
part Of successful management. To illustrate
Wisconsin is in the main an agricultural state
and the environment OF each paper in such cases
must be agriculture The local newspaper can
do a great deal for its people and indirectly for
itself by devotng portion OF its space. under in
telligent direction. TO the necessities OF local ak
the editor organize the forces that are about him
end make his paper give them voice Become
intensified with the life they live and an active
promoter of their interests. He must not wait 10
be asked
To be a printer Is to be power among the
type To be an editor Is to be power among
men 70 succeed be must reach out and take
hold of their convictions. and where lack of con
yiction prevails, supply il. aud by contact mou d
them TO an enhancement Of their own good.
Ideas govern everywhere, aud ideals are found
ed on ideas This Is the editors fell. To him is
referred the task in common with the pulpit and
the school teacher, Of enargng the Understandable
Of the people This great triumvirate Of teach
ers constitute solid phslanx for the overthrow
of Ignorance and vice. How painful then, 20 see
a mummy 10 either place wearing this armor OF
the gods
The Divine Commission to all teachers is 70
teach men TO know good from evil How can
men know without thought without ideas, with
out knowedgey Look then this matter fully in
the face snd realize that the function Of the edi-
tor is the promotion Of sound knowledge among
his people To this end he must be knowledge
full man.
Work is tho great solvent OF destiny Inteu.
erence is the great solvent OK worS. The farmer
Subscriber must feel that the editor is a help %
him because he gives the ideas to aid him IN his
work So must the mechanic. so must the mer-
chant the preacher, and the teacher. Every
newspaper radius In Wisconsin ISL typical com
munity with all these wants, and impulses that
need good editor 70 help them along. How
can he stand 70 his place. either for their help or
his own advancement while he contents himself
There is circumference to the calling x The