Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-07-04
PLUMB TO THE EDITORS.
At CLAW Center.

Clay Center largely increased tuo aICeno
ance at the meeting of the editors. l
had become noised about that his address
would be in the nature of political key
note, and that he would offer some sug
pestions in regard to the future course o
his party in Kansas. There appears t.
have been no warrant for such report
as the president of the association sait
from the beginning that the speaker
might talk literature, religion, science
art and anything else save politics
Plumb was very careful not to trench up
on this regulation, and confined himself
entirely to matters pertaining to the pro
fession of which he was once member
The following is an outline of his address
NO POLITICS IN IT.
81 feel that am sort of false note
an this occasion. have very little idea
of what the modern newspaper associa-
ton is. My knowledge of journalism
goes back to the earlier days and to the
old matters of concern which used to
engage editorial meetings of thirty years
ago, but knew that in coming here
would find Kansas crowd, which is al
ways a model crowd, well dressed, well
behaved and appreciative. I come rather
desiring to refresh my memory Of the pro-
fession by hearing others speak, and
have really no copy on the hook. I find
in my own experience. as the future mar
rows and grows less, and the past broad
ems and brightens, and dwell with in
creasing pleasure upon the memories
which this occasion renders SO vivid. I
am tonight simply a retired member
of profession which I have always loved
and to which it has always been my hope
to some day return.
1t is now forty-two years since I left
the home roof to answer an advertisement
for boy of fourteen, which appeared in
a religious paper taken in my fathers
family. With 81 in my pocket I started
out to walk the seventy-fve miles which
then seemed to me such long journey.
An apprenticeship which embraced two
nights out of every week working an old
fashioned single roller finally fitted me
for taking charge of an Office and then
for the amazing venture of buying a
press of my own. That was at the time
when the old parties were breaking up
and the struggle in Kansas was making
its impress on public affairs. Ny inter-
est in the contest brought me to this state
and the ambition to become a part and
parcel of the struggle caused me to es-
tablish the Emporia Ne1rs. I can say
with qualification that as editor of that
paper 1 at least earned the reputation of
being radical in politics. 1 look back
upon all that experience as being of
great value to me, and am fully per-
suaded that one of the elements Of true
education is service at the case.
THE VALUE OF THE COUNTRY PRESS.
"With the advent of the daily paper in
Kansas, there was much doubt as to the
future usefulness of the weekly. But
am satisfied, and 1 think that experience
has proved, that the great agency in
molding and enlightening public senti-
ment is the country weekly. 1t goes into
the homes of the farmers and reaches a |
vast audience which the daily papers do
not appeal to. There are good many
jokes about the poverty of the rural ed
itor, but all the same the country news
papers continue not only to multiply in
numbers but to grow in excellence and
improve in quality. Those in Kansas
are better than in any other state. 1t
could not be otherwise. It is the logic of |
the situation. Kansas ought to have the |
best papers. 1t has the most inspiring
and interesting history and the brightest
people, and the standard of intelligence
among the reading public determines
largely the style of the papers.
"This leads me to few thoughts and
suggestions as to the kind of a paper |
which is calculated to exert the largest |
influence for good. No paper can print
all the news. No person has time to read
all the news. To select from the great
mass of current intelligence that which is |
best and most instructive. is the mission |
OF the true newspaper man. To eliminate
those things which illustrate the worst
side of human nature and which ought
not to be introduced into the family, and
to give prominence to things which the
people will be better for knowing, is the
duty OF the true journalist. AS the pop
ulation of the country thickens and the
relations between the people become more
intimate, new questions are coming up
which concern in a vital manner the
moral and material welfare of the people.
The social conditions are changing with
the development of the country and
problems are crowding forward for solu-
ton which demand earnest study and
thoughtful consideration. To discuss
these questions and to open up the way