The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-10-23
National and Local Organs q
Mutual Help.

llOW BDdl AlflduCC lltCAutthS w aAsOe'
rapidly and widely disseminated among
the rural population is question which
should command the serious attention Q
every worker 10 the cause of reform. The
daily press is the most dangerous as well az
The most powerful enemy of the country
population and producing classes. Tha
press is eyer found enlisted on the side o
the urban population and concentration o
all wealth, business and political inhuenct
in The cities. Under pretext ofgreai friend
ship for the farmer and interest in his pros
perity the city daily press leaves no oppor-
tuniiy unimproved 10 stab the interest ant
political influence OF the farmer in the back
His interference in public business is assum
ed 10 be unwarranted, and his attempt t
NEEDLE with financial matters is taken as al
insult and menace to the business Of thu
country, as though the farmer had no bus
mess. 1t is the duty of the country press al
matter Of self defense, as we'll as of common
Justice, to unite in conntefacting this tyranny
which is being exerted by the city, aided b.
the daily press, over the country. If tht
city can gobbIe the wealth produced by the
country il matters not what means are re-
sorted to TO accomplish this end.
The county press has been drilled and
disciplined SO lonshy the machinery o.
party that it has well nigh lost its indepen-
hence, and become the mere echo Of the
daily press in all matters Of public concern
When the agricultural population found
themselves being plnndered by a plan Of
systematic robbery devised by the cities
(these centres Of businessl'') and COM
menced organizing in selfdefense, the city
papers without single exception, not only
opposed such movemet, but denied the
necessity for such organizations and secuted
with whitening scorn the demands set forth
BY the rural, producing classes.
When these conditions of antagonism be-
tween The great city and its daily papers,
and tie still greater but more humble
country and its modest local press, the latter
was found 10 be almost unanimously taking
sides with the city dailies under whose
guidance by party drill they had been act
ing so long. The determined efforts, steady
organization and justice of the cause of the
farmers have at last won over TO their side
many papers, but the means at hand and
facilities for spreading information as il
should be advanced among the farming
population, are not possessed by the rural
press, and il was soon apparent, as the
farmer organizations spread aud assumed
national importance In numbers and in
iluence. that national and State papers
deyoted 10 these organizations became 8
necessity, to which sources of information
the members Of the organizations and ih'
country press could turn with confidence
And right here is met another obstacle
The rural press which is necessarily local ir
It's Influence, had scarcely espoused ths
cause Of the farmers THAT portion Of j
which has done sol till il began TO nantes
Jealousy Of its CO. worker, the national ant
State organ, and look upon their circulation
in their neighborhoods as poaching on thu
special preserve Of the local press. This Il
an entire misapprehension of results. Thu
more widely the national organ 81 an ordel
o. association circniates, the more informa-
ton it scatiers, and the more thorough thu
educational process, the stronger the asso-
citation becomes. This influence lis sure {,
react in favor of sustaining and building W
the local press. II is the reading public
that sustains the local paper but that read
ing public must have access to more ample
resources than the local press can possibly
supply, before ii is either fitted or in tn,
mood to sustain by hearty patronage it
local press.
The National Economist is the nationa
organ Of the Farmers Alliance and it is Il
the interest Of every local alliance ant
grange paper to make every effort to exteIC
the circulation Of the Economist in its To-
Gallon. The National Economist is pub
lished 10 the national capital and has ample
facilities for gathering information of in-
esiimable value to agricultural organization
ADD 10 the whole labor world. While th,
dissemination Of such information as
national organ alone can supply, it canno
take the place oflhe local paper, but help
create necessity in every community fol
one, aud the more thoroughly such knowl
edge is diffased the more liberal will be tn,
support Of the local paper. Il is mistaken
notion 10 any local alliance paper to sup
pose the circulation Of The national organ OF
State organ in its field is rival or injury
10 its business. On the contrary nothing il
OF greater advantage 10 the local paper
Push by every means the circulation of the
national paper and the demand for the home
paper Is sure to follow. Every surveillance
should make il part Of It's order of business
10 extend the circulation of the national and
State organs. Their local pride is sure tc
give hearty support to the home paper.
The prohibition party publish
series of campaign meetings in the