Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-08-25
WANTED-..ITEMS OF NEWS.
Accounts Of Business, Social, Political,
and Religions DOingS
Solicited.

SOllClteu.
Some people have an idea that
the editor of the local pages of a
paper is ubiquitous, that is, that he
can be here, there and everywhere
at the same time. They suppose
him to have as many eyes as Argus,
and ears in proportion, so that moth
ing occurring worth public notice
escapes his observation. More than
that he is supposed to be something
of a mind reader, and can forecast
a great many things that people are
planning to do. AS to nerves, neces-
stty for sleep or rest, they are sup
posed to be quite unnecessary. This
individual also is supposed to
be, day and night, like a rat terrier
after rodents, running down items.
Need it be said that it is very un-
fair to expect these impossibilities or,
what is very much the same, to
suppose that the paper should con-
tain notes of all that is going on in
town and country unless, many
friends aid in gathering the news
from many quarters? This is par
tjcularly SO with a paper like the
JOURNAL that circulates both i'm
city and country.
1t aims and determines to bc
specially a ncwspaper-a paper full
of news. This department is to tell
its readers, without regard to politi-
cal faith or religious creed, what
ever of public interest is going ON.
Should it bo thought best to have
red hot partisan politics in its
columns, that could be attended to
elsewhere than ON the local page.
Here mistake is often made by
some reporters and 10y readers and
friends of a paper, The latter
refrain from handing in, and the
former from preparing for the
printers, items ofnews and accounts
of doings, because they might not
accord with the political predilec-
tions of the management, or might
not help to swell the vote of the
standard bearers whose names ap-
pear at the head of the editorial
columns. Just as we'll might II
photographers refuse to put in his
show ease photographs that do not
suit his taste rs to features or style
of dress. News columns are sup
posed to reflect the days doings,
and it is not necessarily swearing al
legiance to the republican, democrat,
prohibition, labor or women's rights
party, because items of news con-
cerning Harrison, Cleveland, Fisk,
Streeter or Belva Lockwood, are in
serted. Nor can you judge of the
religious tenets of the faith of
the proprietors, editors or reporters
of any journal from the fact that it
tells the world what is being done
by Protestants or Catholics, Meth
odists, Baptists or Presbyterian de
nominations. Ifa prayer meeting
is attended or II sermon reported,
it does not follow that the writer is
a church member, any more than
his stating that odds are offered in
favor of a certain political candidate,
horse or boat proves him to be a
gambler. Nor is it ncedful for
local itemizcr to report everything
not in accord with the bias of the
paper in burlesque or insulting
manner.
After this explanatory prelude it
is time to say that it will be an es-
teemed favor if city and country
friends will kindly take the trouble to
send usitems ofnews ofall kinds, due
care being taken to be strictly ac-
curate and TO avoid personalities.
Many things devoid of interest
to ninety-nine persons may be just
what the huudreth wants TO
see. Send, therefore, all sorts Of
items, subject to the judgment Of
the management Of th2 paper.
The fact that the JOURNAL is
published in Salem does not make
it desirable that the bulk Of its news
should be merely Of local interest.
II has an increasing circulation
throughout the county and beyond.
1t is the intention TO treat all lo-
;alities impartially. If short Of
time or unaccustomed TO writing
for the press, send in the facts, being
sure they are facts, and legibly writ
ten and they will be put In proper
shape for the printer. BE sure and
give name and address, not ncces-
sarily for publication, but as evidence
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