Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-05-13

more rjsht TO sent his paper to q
subscriber for two years when he or
Tered it for but one than a grocer
las to send two pounds of butter
his customer only ordered one.
From a practical standpoint, how
,yer, the two transactions are not
analogous. The practice of sending
paper until ordered discontinued
aas received, after its long use, legal
md moral sanction, and now, what
it may be as u matter of pure
has become right as a matter
If practice. In like manner it has
llso, l believe, come to be thought
hat an editor who lies about his
successfully is deserving
If praise rather than censnre.
Strictly speaking, possibly the
of job work would come under
he division of the business of jour
But l prefer not to speak
this, essential element though it
to success, and will direct your
lttentien to advertising, the staff of
TO newspaper men,. | do not
aree with james Parton, who de-
chred in u recent forum that the
graf newspaper of the future would
be without advertisements and should
be 81. Live newspapers will always
contln advertisements, though their
edltos will not always be under
bondase to the business managers.
The Advertising columns of a good
countrynewspaper tell the story of
the thrift and energy, Or lack of it,
of a town better than any other
agency cal How to secure and how
to keep advertising patronage is a
question of vital importance, but it
Is not my mention to speak of it at
length. But let me bring forward
here an idea hat might not be en-
tlrely without merit if adopted by
our association. The great bulk OF
foreign advertisements is inserted too
low IN our papers now. If a secre.
tary or other officer would be chosen
whose duty it would be to correspond
directly with large advertisers solicit
ing their favors, giing them good
rates and placing their ads. where
they desired he woua be very use.
full. He could rid the association in
a large measure of those cormorants.
the advertising agents. who grow
rich off of country Newspaper men.
He could guard members against
frauds and dead-beats, secure a bet
ter class of ads. and more money fol
them and for his trouble mightretair
a small commission on such adver
tisements as he obtained.
Again, one thing necessary TO Sc
cure good, paying advertisements i:
to have a clean, well made-up news,
paper, sparkling all over with health,
activity and vigor. A newspape
should be ahead of the town in whicl
it is printed, never behind. TIL
editor should be in command of th
vanguard. The more drummin
you do for your town the better 20
will be liked by that great class-th
merchants-in the smile of who's
favor SO many newspaper men f1oul
ish like unto the green bay tree.
A few words now as to Journalism
from a moral standpoint. The pu
pit and the press are twin agents fc
the cultivation of morality and til
increase of righteousness. To
young man who desires to accomplis
some good for the world, who seek
to enter a profession in which ther
are grander possibilities than III an
other, 1 commend this calling. Thel
is room enough and to spare in th
ranks for talented young men who's
hearts are throbbing with warm affe'
tons and in whom the desire to
useful and noble transcends all 10
ambitions As a young man speal
ing to young men l bid them We
come. Welcome to the true mission
airy band-to the devotees of til
printing press-that great civiiizer
the world and harbinger of the con
ing of Gods kingdom on eartl
You need not tell me there are ba
men in this profession. I know i
But their influence for evil is owe
balanced by the great good done b
their better brethren. Because til
profession is thus abused by bad me
does not prevent its being in th
hands of good men, an agenc
equalled by none other, exceptin
possibly Gods chosen ministry G
earth. What q regret comes to IL
true newspaper man when he SEE
sneers at religion, irreverent joke
or immoral stories or sensation
printed in the columns of respectful
Journals. That newspaper whic
reaches hundreds and thousands
people where the preacher reach'
but scores, with all the latent power
for good, yet which, despite all this
allows its columns to contain ii
filth of the street and the almo
blasphemous impurity of some of OF
alleged humorists. deserves the col
demnation of every humanitarian an
everyjournalist.
Lastly, let us speak of the socii
aspect of our many-sided profession
The editor of a country paper nee
not be a society man, nor a kid-glove
dude, but he should be well poste
on the social movements, not only
his immediate set or community, b.
of the whole territory over which h
paper circulates. He should kno
about marriages and parties and Il
great current of social talk. A cou.
try paper is ahome paper. 1t shouI
he a society paper. Not like tho
Saturday sheets in great cities, file
with inane vaporings and chroniclinl
of the actions of Lord this and CO
onel that, but a paper narrating 6
about the home happenings. III
ladies are an editors best friends, al
yet there are none whom he neglsc
more. Men read papers becau
they have to, women because Thu
like to.
The personal columns of newsp
per do not receive the attention
many country offices they deserv
| MANY good and worthy people ha
"a desire to see their names IN pri
that should be g~raifed. l know