Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1893-07-06

go backward, but are all rather try.
ing to get closer together and with
brotherly love help each other for
ward in the good work. Things are
different to-day and the change has
grown directly out of organization.
The newspapers of the country are
now run upon business principles
| by business men. We have STAN
dard price per inch per thousand
, circulation. We are business men
and sell our space and our papers
for cash and pay our debts with cash
just like the banker or merchant.
We have higher ideas of our busi-
ness and editorial responsibility.
While we look carefully after the busi-
ness end we are more careful to see
that our local and editorial columns
are kept pure and clean and that
something is said in every issue to
forward the best interests of our
community and to ennoble mankind.
In addition to the business ad-
vantages accruing from organiza-
ton, we become better acquainted
with each other and cultivate a
sociability which has dignified us
to such an extent of that personal
journalism, at least in Missouri, is
a thing of the past. You hear of a
duel with pistols more often than
you do of duel with the pen.
Among some of the benefits of Or
ganization are such pleasant occa-
sions as this. These are oases in
our desert and we deserve them,
although they are not the chief
object Of our organization. | am
sorry that l have not time to go
more into details on matters per-
tanning to this subject, which is one
of my hobbies, but in closing, l de-
sire to say that | am proud to know
that journalism is fast rising to that
high standard which it should al
ways maintain. A better class of
men are publishing a better class
of newspapers. The penny-a-lin-
ers and irresponsible, disreputable
blackmailers are now few and far
between. The men who cannot
make an honest living at any other
business are going to jail or to the
rock pile instead of into the news
paper business, as of yore. The
newspapers of the country are not
now run by beggars, pot house poll
ticians and deadbeats who were the
offscourings of all other trades and
professions. The tone of the press
is day by day getting better and its
power for good is rapidly growing
throughout the entire world. | am
free to say that | think the State
and National Associations have
done much to elevate the press and
those connected with it and to
bring about the result of which we
should be so proud. The editors
of the country are no longer grovel-
ing mendicants or suppliant tools
but independent thinking men who
have duties to perform-a noble
calling to follow-and are generally
men equal to emergency.
There is no better opening for
bright young men with small capi-
tai than the journalistic field offers.
There is no higher calling, unless it
is the ministry, and the editor has
fully as wide a field for good. And
it is a paying business if you are a
business man; and you can't sue
ceed in any calling unless you are.
You must have energy, honesty Of
purpose and enterprise. Sound
principles, common sense and a
nose for news insure for you sue
cess in the fullest sense of the word.
1t is true man thus endowed
could succeed in almost any pro-
fession, but in no other could he
accomplish more good for humani-
ty or leave more lasting heritage
to his family.