Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-03-13
THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Courteous and considerable treatment
of the weekly newspapers of WiscOn-
sin has long been striking charac
teristic of The Milwaukee Journal.
Formerly it was the custom of metro
pOlitan newspapers to reprint Opin-
ions only from the daily press. This
custom The Journal long ago revers-
ed, and for years has taken special
pains to reprint extensively the say
ings OF the press of Wisconsin. This
consideration for the State press,
which has now become the practice of
the entire press of Milwaukee, has, we
believe, Inspired many country edi-
tors to better things editorially.
Very handsome treatment indeed
was accorded by the press of MiIwau-
kee to the recent meeting of the Wis
consin Press association. OF the
meeting The Journal says:
1.-The Wisconsin Press association
has met and adjourned. 1t was no.
ticeable that there was a large body
of new men, mostly young and vigOr-
Gus, among its membership. These
new men are the strength and hope of
journalism. They come to the work
with better preparation and broader
views They bring the inspiration of
the times and the quick pulse of bust
ness activities. The attendance was
large, and additions to membership
larger than usual. Evidently Mil
waukee has attractions, as it should
have, for the people of the state.
These representative people spread
over the state are the very best adver-
tisers we can have and Milwaukee is
to profit thereby. But this Is no one
sided deal; the state will find its
interests bound up In Milwaukee, and
through the press of the state will
come to know where these interests
lie and what they are.
The gathering, was, as might be
expected, an unusually Intelligent one
its appearance showing at a glance its
high character. Young, sturdy, indie
pendent, busy. earnest and alert, it
stands for what the press stands in
the fullest sense. Those who have
been easy-going or listless in their
business, will have received inspira-
ton to better things. The burden of
the whole programme was more work,
more individuality, more independent
thinking. AS The Journal has long
preached, the country press does not
know its power or its real value. 1t
does not claim its own, either in inhu
ence, pay or ability. 1t does not use
its opportunities to the best advan-
tage. These young men apparently
promise better things; they will give
no less to the public and TO their sep
arate communities, but will look after
their own share and belongings. The
press must first command respect by
from its just dues.
Next to doing a thing yourself is
the ability to get some one else to do
1t we'll Some think they cannot run
an editorial column; that it is useless
TO compete in that line with the we'll
equipped dallieS; that what they may
say amounts to nothing. This is "a
mistake. Human thought is not lost.
Have your editorials, and have them
your own in fact, or at least in senti-
ment and under your absolute control.
Make them consistent and high toned:
courteous, honest in thought and
based on principles. directed to reas-
on rather than to the man or motives;
always on the side of better thought
and purpose; then your editorials VIII
reach their object. The editor may
not reach the highest standard, but
he will grow. And after all, every
man should work for himself while
serving others. In these lines, The
Journal is more hopeful of the coun-
try press than ever before.