The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-03-01
tYHIRD PAPEP)
DOES IT PAY TO BE AN INDEPENDENT
EDITOR7
ny \. C. Nash. Canton NeMsl
(By n. c. Nash, Canton News

This question, so easily asked, is not
n easily answered. There are so many
POINTS of view from which 1t may be
Considered, that an off-hand answer
nav as likely be wrong as right The
Question of age and experience affects
and so also do political beliefs and
eligious convictions.
ON BOTH SIDES.
An editor of political paper, who
has convictions of his own and dares
10 put them in his paper Is, If young
man, assailed as an "upstart,"
aswellhead" and possessed of too
greatly enlarged ideas of his own i'm
oortance. If an elderly man, the inde-
oendent editor is called sore head,
man whose ambitions have been
thwarted, and whose Importance as a
factor in the community has been
overlooked or moderated.
In religious circles, the Independent
| editor is promptly set down as he
retic, and avoided as one infected with
a loathsome contagious disease.
SOMETHING LACKING.
In the brief space of this paper it is
aot practicable to elaborate the collat-
sral ideas which might be brought out,
but many of them will occur to you,
for "a word to the wise is sufficient"
shall not attempt to diagnose the
ailment nor dissect the editor who
styles himself "non-partisan" and i'm
AGNES the people will believe him "in-
dependent" In these days the editor
who has no party preference lacks, 1t
seems to me, the intelligence necessary
for good citizenship. Being life long
and ardent partisan, have far greater
respect for my ardent partisan friend,
.hough his views are diametricaliy OPP
posed to mine, than l have for the
-partisan-the man too lazy to in
vestigate either or any side of the
questions which affect US as citizens,
and confesses himself a sort OF politi-
.al eunuch. s
THE INDEPENDENT EDITOR.
The independent editor or the editor
who is inclined to be Independent,
should count the cost before he carries
his independence so far as to cause
much friction. In the first place he
must expect his motives will be ques-
toned his honesty doubted.
Then he must expect the party lash
will be applied unsparingly, If he dares
TO protest against the Entertainments
Of corporations, some relic hunter"
will clip" him and he need expect
no more quail on toast" in the shape
Of corporation favors. II he dares to
raise his voice in protest, when he be-
ieyes his party leaders act illadvlsedly
he is boycotted in every way possible
and he is further Inundated by see
Ing the sons of Belial use his protests
as poison-tipped arrows to shoot at his
friends.
Then, since his motives are misun-
derstood, and his honesty doubted, and
his protests have furnished the COM
mon enemy with the bulk of their am
munitlon he will be beset with the
Tear that he has done more harm than
good, and this is oft-times true.
COST HEAVILY.
The writer has been more or less of
an Independent editor ever since he
TOOK up the work in January, 1877.
This real. or fancied, independence has
cost heavily in pecuniary sense and
DE does not expect to live long enough
TO be considered honest in his indie
pendence except by very few but my
editorial brother, with Independent in
clinations, let me tell you there are
some compensations in being indie
pendent.
If the corporation hirelings prevent
the extension of the usual courtesies
In the way of transportation in ex-
change for advertising, you will be less
likely to neglect your business, be-
cause you will be more likely to stay
at home and attend to it. If you are
independently inclined, you are less
liable to have the disease, so contagi-
GUS among editors-"the itch for Of
dce."
Many an editor has seriously i'm
paired his usefulness in his chosen vo-
cation by being temporarily an "office
holder. Many editors, we fear, are
at times deferred from fearless criti-
eism Of what they know to be wrong
because they know such criticism
would surely be remembered and
would be handicap should their ad-
miring constituents desire to thrust
them into some official position.
BE BETTER OFF.
The writer may be incorrect, but he
firmly believes that II every editor
would resolutely turn his face from the
alluring temptation to get some lean
official position (for most Of those re-
garded as fiat" prove lean in the long
run,) the country would be better off.
The editors could then be sentinels in
the watch towers, guarding the liber-
ties of the people. They could be
fearless In condemnation o. wrong and
bold in advocating the right, without
being suspected of having some utter
ior and selfish object in view.
INEVITABLE POSITION.
The writer has held official positions
and he knows full we'll how nearly inn
possible it Is to be an independent edi-
tor while holding an official position.
1t is true that much of the criticism OF
the Office holding editor is uncalled for
and unjust, but as you have 80 often