Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-03
INDEPENDENT PRESS
Its Relation to the Politician and to
the Public-First Duty Of News
paper to its Readers.

paper to its Readers.
The relationship which does ex st
between the newspaper and the poll
tician is of such an order that it is
difficult to particularize. The inde-
pendent newspaper Invariably finds
it's most determined opposition from
the politician. The power OF the poll
tician depends upon the publicity that
is given him. The greatness OF the
newspaper is in it's independence of
thought and action. Both have in
terests in common, but both are sell
dom in accord. The influential news
paper of the community is not the
party organ. The greatest political
factor in the community is not the
arrow minded party worker. View
ng the matter from the point of &C
omplishing the greatest good for the
greatest number, the paths of the in
dependent newspaper and the poll
ticiap unhappily diverge. The inde~
peraent newspaper, not to prove
rec can't to the trust which it has ap-
piled to its usefulness, must, despite
every antagonism, work for this said
greatest good for the greatest nnm-
'er. We begin first with the canvass
Or political power upon the part of
citizen who has by peculiar environs
oeen situated so that he is conspicu-
ous as a candidate. His greatest aid
8 the newspaper. Independent news
papers do not sell their power; neither
DO they offer it in advance. Public
ointment is studied first. It is
mistake to impute to the true inde-
S pendent newspaper the thought that it
endeavors to force it's opinions upon
reading public. It does not. 1t
would not live long if it did.
But 1t studies the sentiment of the
eople, ascertains by diligent and i'm
artial inquiry what remedy can be
=. ,uggested to correct an evil and offers
by argument, by exposure or by
~ other agency which is legitimate.
Ow the politician comes to the front
nd weds the newspaper. He looks
pom the newspapers efforts to ac-
,mplish this greatest good for the
-- 'eatest number as an agency where
he can profit. And when triumph
principle is achieved he rides into
ice. In the canvass for Office where
The efforts OF the independent news
PAPER are exerted salient fact to be
>orne in mind is simply this: The in
~ ,pendent newspaper never asks for
,redit or reward, but the politician
'oes.
The newspaper battles to help it's
constituency; the politician struggles
rule it. The election is held, and
he successful aspirant for the Office,
proilted immeasurably by the support
of influential newspapers, enters upon
he discharge of his duties. The
newspaper does not begin as an Office
holder. The independent newspapers
position in the community has not
changed. 1t is still to be a power
md force for the propagation of the
~ 7iews of the public and to espouse as
is cause the sentiment as it will find
The officeholder is responsible to
he public; SO is the newspaper.
Nhen the acts OF the officeholder are
contrary to the rules OF right and are
ven in question the newspaper can
. OF be held accountable. The news
,aper does rot seek in the canvass
preliminary to either nomination jor
election to Influence the candidate it
supports except in the interests of the
d. the people, and the issues are
made by the voters, not by the news