Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-27
VALUED H|STORY-P|ECES.
PAPERS READ AT OLD SETTLERS CLUB.
Continued Proceedings of the Ninth Annual
Reunion at Dixon Hotel, Tuesday Even
ing, April II. Looking Backward.

UlclS CltlD Oh NOOQ county. FOllOW'
ing the papers as printed in fullin the
preceding issue came response by A.
L. FOntaine to the toast
POWER AND POSSIBILITY OF THE PRESS
is subject Of such magnitude that
we feel our inability to do it justice.
To be selected to respond to a toast
before the old settlers of Wood county
is a favor and pleasure that we feel
hOnored in having been thus chosen.
The power of the press confined to
Wood county is of course limited as
compared with the general press of
the country, but its power in a local
way is probably as conspicuous and
great in its field as the press in
general. Journalism is a topic ever
old, but always new, to its vOtarieS at
least, for no calling or profession is
more aggressive and progressive, SO
thoroughly up and abreast to the
times as the newspapers of today. It's
power. of course, depends upon it's
standing in the cummunitX or locality
in which it is published. If it is the
advocate of advanced thought and
modern ideas; the champion of Scien-
tific research and thorough inyestiga-
tiOn; The friend Of higher education
and elevated citizenship; the proper
medium for the diffusion of intelligent,
wholesome, useful knowledge, it's
power is, of course, greater than if
the contrary existed. Journalism,
whether metropolitan or local, has a
limitleSS scope, affOrding the widest
possible range for discussion, covering
an endless field for practical thought
and speculative observation, and can
only be slightly touched upon in a
toast Of this kind Journalism is what
we make it, elevated and entertaining
or common place and stupid, accord
ing to circumstances and conditions.
If metropolitan, it reflects the per-
sonality Of many men, if country and
local, reflects he personality of the
editor We must consider it's power
and possibility in a rural or small
community. A great mind does not
always make great journal, neither
does a literary man furnish the re-
quisiteS for a successful journal. The
han possessing common education
and familiar with the practical and
business principles of publication will
WELD more power in community for
good or evil, than one who possesses a
higher education with no practical
knowledge of the art.
1t is said that this is an age of jour
nalism, all the acts of the world being
narrated by the press. And this is
true, for in the journals of the day we
read the history and events of the
world as they take place.
Here at home there are very few, if
any, events transpire but what they
are chronicled 10y the local press. In
fact, you take the files of the news
papers of the twin cities and YOU have
the history of the cities in detail
The press is the most potent educa-
tional factor of the present century,
the greatest benefactor of modern
times. 1t is read and studied by
people of all classes and in every
station in life. Its power is unlimited
and only circumscribed by it's lack of
confidence and character in the dis
trict where published. 1t is a known
fact that while Talmage may preach
to hundreds on Sunday in New York
his sermons are read by multiplied
thousands on Monday all over the
world. This is the present possibility
of the press, what may it not be in
years to come? The people look to the
journalist, whom they respect and in
whom they have confidence, for guild
ance and instruction on all public
questions. By this means the power
of the press is unlimited where these
conditions exist.
1t is therefore the true mission of
the journalist, if he desires the great
est power and possibility for his
journal, TO present his readers with an
interesting, instructive paper, progress
Sive, but not too sensational: bright.
but always reliable; enterprising, but
strictly truthful: readable, but ever
dignitied: newsy, but entirely clean.
Truthful, clean, manly journalism
commands the respect of all and there
fore wields more power than the
journal which lacks character. The
journal whose ambition is to lift men
up rather than to pull them down:
that will promote all good works.
either city, town or county. secular
or religious: that will make the local
ity better where it is published for the
knowledge and truth it imparts, has
power and greater possibilities than
the journal which has no regard for
these principles.
We have no method of measuring
the power of the local press in Wood
county, nor of the possibilities it may
have in the future. but we will be
pardoned if we claim for it a high
standard OF eXcellency when compared
with other journals in cities of like
population. Its power for good in
Wood county is probably equal to that
of other journals in counties of this
size.
The standard of tho ,,race, -, yyoo1l