The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-03-10
RIGHTS OF THE COUNTRY NEWS
PAPER


ton "The Country Newspapers" we
nublish an interview from State Aud
itor J. NJ. Seibert, in which Mr.. Sci
bert tells some very plain facts In
very few words. He struck, what
appears to us, a keynote of the sltua-
tion-:he relation of the country press
to the people of Missouri. 1t is high
time that the leaders of our state would
awake to a realiz ,tion of the facts that
unfrienlly legislation has discouraged
and crippled the country press, and
that emigration to the state hiss fallen
off in about the same ratio that the
laws have embarrassed legitimate ad-
vertising.
Mr.. Siebert says: awe must look
after and encourage the men who
publish the country newspapers
class of gentlemen who are doing more
than any other for the advancement
and prosperity of the people. They
are the educators, and are, to a great
extent, shaping our civilization, many
of them, probably at financial loss. "
Running a country newspaper un-
der the most favorable circumstances,
is not the most lucrative employment,
but it is an honorable and fascinating
calling, wherein man OF character
becoming honestly and earnestly es-
tablished, rarely changes for another,
even though that other be a much
better paying employment. The
country newspaper publishers as
class, and we say it not in boast
full or egotistical spirit, are above the
mediocre. and the same intelligence
and energy required in getting up a
clean, newsy paper for their readers,
free from all the Objectionable and
sensational matter that is published in
the large city papers, but at
the same time getting the
cream of al the news,
and especially dealing'with home and
local affairs, if employed in other
channels, could but make a success
financially far above that real zed.
1t is a deplorable.. fact that dema'
ror,nAs. are too often sent to the leg
around to see where they can save 6
pittance by cutting on legitimate fees
very doubtful economy at all times
Other callIngs send men to the legisla
ture to look to their interests and see
that their rights are not infringed on.
The newspaper publisher is too proud
and has too much self-respect to enter
the role of lobbyist, to scheme and
labor for tina: which he feels he has 9
right to expect even without..the ask
ing. As consequence, his cause be-
ing undefended by the lobbyist, his le-
gitimste fees are cut from year to year
until it is very poor encouragement
for him to use his talents, his energy,
his time and material in boosting a
man into off Ice he has every reason to
believe will take the very bread out
of his own mouth.
This is equally true of the county
official, who after he is mentioned,
receives the hearty and unqualified
support of his party journal, whether
he was the choice of the editor or not
before the nomination. He receives
all the hattering notices the paper
bestows upon him as matter of
course, and after his election sends
his printing away, or if the paper re.
ceiyes its just dues, the legitimate
i'ooii III inouHU. - ---LI
Journalist likes TO do. We.are deal.
ing in cold facts, and not in meta
phors, which will fit the experience of
nearly every country newspaper man
IN the state.
The Times is far from advocating
the spoils system in state and county
but earnestly believes with Mr.. Sci
bert, that it is time a liberal policy
was inaugurated towards that medium
through which the people of the state
and county must carry on its cam
paign of education. This matter was
fully discussed at the last state ed
itorlal convention at Nevada, and