Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-02-01

exist for the guidance and enjoyment
of one or a dozen classes to the exclu-
sion of all others. To use a current
slang expression, There are other old
tin cans in the alley and occasionally
they will be heard If only as they
whistle through the air at the end of
a dogs tail. In the noise produced by
these terrestrial bodies may be heard
the occasional voice, musical as the
songs Of birds, yelling up from the
harp-strung chords of the editorial
larynx.
An editor may be pacified temporar-
lily by a comp. to a church social If al
lowed a seat at the head Of the table,
or, in the enjoyment of an annual rail-
road pass he may %relinquish for a day
his mad chase after the elusive dollar.
which, failing to roll fast enough to
keep out of his way, scars off into the
ETHEREAL somewhere on the wings of
the silver-tipped eagle which is stamp
ed upon its neither surface.
INCORRUPTIBLE.
But if you will show me an editor
who can be bribed or cajoled into a
REIMBURSEMENT of his ethical stand
ards of truth and untruthfulness and
the privileges which come to him
thereby, l will prove to you that he
will commit murder with his pen,
drown his best friend in the ink key.
and seal his own doom in the paste
pot or stab himself with the scissors.
He simply couldn't help it; for he
would be shorn of the only power
which gives him equal chances with
the world in his contest for that meas
ure of consideration and influence
which are his by right II he will de-
serve them.
DIDN'T DRINK A DROP.
II these are not intensely serious
thoughts they are at least sober ones,
as those can testify who have been my
almost constant companions since |
came to town; and sometimes during
my limited experience in newspaper
work thoughts similar to those which
| have here sought to express in
words have come to me in moments Of
meditation as glimmerings Of a truth
not yet clearly understood.
There may have been a time in the
past when the newspaper was simply
the purveyor of the record of events
and the comings and goings of the peo-
pie; but we know that in our time it
has assumed a far more representative
capacity, publishing not only current
history but the opinions of men, par
ties and nations, on matters as num-
erous as the thoughts Of prin-
ciples as profound as the concurrent
Judgment of organized mind-on prac-
tees as ridiculous Is the follies of
men-on policies as far-reaching as the
commerce and ambitions of nations.
THE EDITOR.
And in that representative capacity
where printed words are beacon lights
or breakers the editor becomes ome
what more than the servant Of his
readers; somewhat more than the
chronicler Of events. for with his fin
ger on the pulse of the people and his
eye on the future, he shall either guide
the formation of the composite opin-
ion of his community or fail ignomin-
iously in duty. If he succeed his sue
cess must come through n SINH
lar to those through which other peo-
pie pursue the purposes of their lives.
II he succeed he must nave ecourse to
all the arts by which people in other
vocations carve their way up to posi-
tons of distinction and of leadership;
for by virtue OF his position he will be
a leader, or a dog. II he succeed he
must be the accurate judge OF what Is
matter for the public eye to look upon,
what is matter for the public mind to
feed upon, and he must be the arbiter
of the time and in which
knowledge of principles and events
evolved in convocations OF people and
movements of parties shall be given
to the world.
In his actions along this line he will
do well to keep in mind that a truth
prematurely told Is more dangerous
and perhaps more disastrous than a ST.
lent lie, or a half-truth served in fault
less style for hungry. prying minds to
feed upon.
DENoMINATED LIARS.
Editors are denominated liars when,
speaking of the virtues Of a man, they
are silent about his vices. They are
called liars when they publish incon-
seouential commonplaces rather than
betray condolences which have been re-
posed In them. They are ciassed as
liars for advocating the pr~edomirating
virtues of a principle and passing over
in silence its inferior weaknesses.
Again, they are denominated liars
for deferring accusations OF crime, or
imputing it to other sources, that JUS
tice may not be defeated by premature
disclosures of opinions and plans OF
action. In a general way they are
classed as liars when they 60 contrary
to the blind ~prejudices Of humanity, or
disagree with the other fellow.
For all of these caustic ~characteri-
cations which can only provoke a
deep-seated smile on the face of the
tactful. long-range, far-seeing editor,
there is the comforting promise which
shall justify his wellmeaning digres-
sions from truth of the Yea, yea and
nay, nay" sort. that society and the
world may be benefited by his act. and
though living sometimes under the
shadow of a lie he shall find his final
justification in the uplifting OF
kind and in the progress of the race.
ARE WE LIARS"
Are we liars? Yes. because there are
! vices which must be covered in order
10 be smothered, and we are to help
cover them with the cloak of silence.
Liars? AS truly as that the right
hand must not know what the left
hand doeth.' And we shall continue
- tsc~o &c lang aS nroiudfra iiuac In