The representative., 1901-03-21
GOOD ADVICE.

We have received a private letter from
an old subscriber which contains sug-
gestions that seem to us so wise and sem
sible that we publish below an extract
from his letter.
Mr.. Sem. besides being an old sub
scriber and contributor to this paper, is
a man advanced in years and his long
service in the cause of reform entities
his opinions to more than ordinary re-
spect. Some one has aptly said "old
men for counsel, young men for war"
and we believe Mr.. Senn's counsel IS
good. He says:
Now, in regard to the paper, would say,
as friend of true reform, my idea Is II
the paper was so run as to give all sides
a hearing without abuse and slander and
fair all around, and the paper was thus
made interesting. it would rapidly become
popular. 1t is going to be hard work to
people. but when the people get in favor
again and they see that it is run in the
interest Of the industrial classes, 1t will
have lots of friends. We have got to have
such a paper that will be free of selfish
ness. You will excuse me for writing these
main yours truly, U. SENN, SR.
Mr. Senns~ timely letter furnishes us
a text upon which to make a few re-
marks. 1t is impossible to please every
body in editing a paper, especially a
political paper. Language strong
enough to suit Socialist would drive
away all those just embracing Populism.
Language mild enough to satisfy Popu-
lists would be contemptuously sneered
at by Socialists as half and half"
Contributors will get to fighting
among themselves over nationality, re-
ligion and the whisky question, and both
sides expect the editor to choke the
other fellow off.
If the editor prints contributions ad-
vocating the ship subsidy steal, the in
terests of great corporations, and the
schemes of millionaires and their tools,
half his subscribers will order their pa
per stopped. If the editor refuses to
publish such articles and fearlessly de-
clares that there is no string on his
bend the suppliant knee to the will of
the money power, the railroad mag
mates, the high muck-a-mucks of the
worlds seven great agricultural societies
and the mighty gold bug lawyer from
st. Paul order the paper suppressed.
Under these circumstances it took
the Representative just three minutes
to shape it's future policy
Our policy in this case is briefly an
nOunced when we say we propose to
raise H, expose the high muck-a-
muck and fight the gold bug, and we ap-
peal to every honest reformer to stand
by us and the paper that does this work.
We have faith in our cause, faith in
the people and we.believe as Mr.. Sem
says>"when the people see the paper is
run in the interests of the industrial
classes it will have lots of friends"
We would say to every subscriber that
II depends much upon you whether your
paper stands In favor with the people.
If you pass it around discuss it's arti-
cles that interest you, and proclaim the
fact that the Representative is radical,
fearless, Independent and stands for the
toiling. masses, you are doing your
share and the paper will not fail to
find friends.
If you do this, we will try to do our
whole duty to our readers as we see it,
and trust to Providence for the rest.
Truth and sense of justice must
find place even in newspaper work. In
the language of James Russell Lowell:
Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong
forever on the throne
But that scaffold sways the future, and
behind the dim unknown
Standeth God within the shadow, keep
ing watch upon His own