The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-07-23
H PEOPLE AND THE NEWS
PAPER.

A great many things are expected
the average daily newspaper. 1t is @,
pected to gather the news and presen
it to its readers as early as possible.
this be not done the people kick. 1t
expected-if a party organ-to STAN
faithfully to its mission OF di%sseminatin,
. political truths and to fight the battle
OF its party whether it gets a cent for i
ornot. If it fail in this the party kicks
1t is expected to present the resourc
and advantages of it's surroundings t.
the reading world and to induce capita
to invest in and improve and build prop
critics, thus adding to the wealth anC
prosperity of the people as a body. 1t il
expected to be a servant of the people
to do their bidding in all things affecting
the general interest. IL it do not the
people kick. 1t is expected to puff this
business and that interest on the ground
that the public good requires it. 1t is
expected to encou. age immigration to
the city, to do all in its power to build
up its business and otherwise to please
al exacting public. If it do not the peo-
pie kick.
But if 1t call upon business men for
an lad" or ask for their printing they are
often met with the declaration that they
and their business are SO well known
that advertising can not help them, or
by the answer that they can get their
printing done cheaper in eastern cities
and that they send their jobs east to cut
down expenses. If the paper man kicks
he is told to fan the air with his hoofs
as much as he p%leases; that every man
has a right to run his business as best
suits him; that he is not compelled to
interest himself in the fate of his local
paper in considering his relation to the
city and its interests. In the meantime
the newspaper is expected to fill column
after column of it's space in praise of the
place and Of its and surround
ings; to urge people to come and invest
in its properties and thus help make a
great city with increased business ard
wealth, and all this while it is expected
the newspaper shall struggle along as
best it can faithfully fulfilling its mission
as the organ of its party and as the con-
of the general good. If it give
up the work and turn its toes to the
dasies expressions of regret may be
heard all along the business line and its
name be soon forgotten in the whirl of
trade and traffic.
Now we submit the question if this is
not all wrong. The people, especially
the business people, of every city owe
much-very much-to their newspapers.
In many instances they owe the exist
ence, and in all much of the prosperity,
Of "a city to its newspapers. They are
under greater obligations to them than
many believe. And yet how many refuse
to extend them that patronage so Justly
their due and which they have SO richly
There is something wrong in d com
nunity that permits Its deserving news
paper to languish and exc out a miserable
Newspapers are regarded by
he distant reader as a pretty fair illus
ration OF the business, enterprise and
prosperity of "a place. If he see it's
well filled with business cards
md advertisements he knows the people
AVE confidence in the resources and
liability of their city and propose to
tand by it. But if he see a boom
rtlcle upon n page and a niggardly
of advertisements upon others, he ,
rrives at the conclusion that there a..
5n't much in the place and, if he propose ,
o find a new and wider field for his ,
Experience and enterprise and capital he !
ill give the place a wide berth. The ,
ewspaper to him is a looking glass in ,
'hlch is mirrored the business prospects I
I a place. Printers ink is not lost to ;
he world. 1t speaks i'll or good of the !
own or city in which it is published in .
very line and column. If these ,
remises be sound it behooves every ,
usiness man and every other whose 8
l%terests lie in the track of the prosperity n
a city to make the looking glass as }
right. and printers ink as attractive as :
ossible. .
Nj n ~ fN- L