The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-31

school, and that is the one over whlcn
the fiery old soldier. author and devotee
OF the star-eyed goddess-who had the
courage to tackle and expose the wicked
ness of New York's fomous Four Hun
dred-stin presides. When Henry Water
son speaks the whole country listens and
cheers, or listens and trembles.
Who says that?' That is what every
body wants to know
No one cares very much what the
mere newspaper says about anything.
This is the reason the country editor
is an important and influential parsonage.
Generally he can call off the names OF
half or more of his subscribers from
memory. He meets them and addresses
them by their first names, asks about
their families, the crops, and the news
of the neighborhood. Consequently every
thing he prints in his paper is read as
Coming from his own lips. His image
stands plainly out before the eyes OF mis-
readers, and as they read they hear his
voice. His utterances, therefore. are i'm
portant and influential in proportion to
his character and standing as man
Long years ago 1 knew a venerable
man in Kansas who had spent his whole
life in directing the political machinery
of his party. L would rather walk n
hundred miles he was wont to say, than
write a letter. And that illustrates this
phase of the subject. II is the man.
after all, whose personal magnetism
reaches the hearts of the people. A bour-
bon Democrat of the deepest dye and
most degraded type might write I'M
answerable editorials for an inanimate
and impersonaI metropolitan Republican
newspaper and this fact, not being
known, would de.ract nothing from the
effect, although the writer believed not a
word that he had written, and despised
the doctine he had preached. A black
Republican might perform the same SER
vice for similar democratic newspaper.
And. indeed, this kind of hired machine
work is often employed. But. that sort
of thing would not begin to work in a
country printing office. II would be at
once recognized as the hand of Esau,
but the voice of Jacob. No matter how
unanswerable the argument, its author
ship would uestroy its effect and cast
doubt upon its truthfulness even among
the members of the party in whose inter
est it was written.
HAS A TOUGH JOB BEFORE HIM
THE country editor has a tough job
before him all the time The resting
places are few and far between, and are
of the most feeting character If it is
true that there is no rest for the wicked
then the country editor must have reach
ed the very climax of sin. OF course.
he must be in politics-up TO his nevk and
ears-and he must be in politics for the
other fellow. The faintest suspicion that
he must be in politics-up to his neck and
in view than for the glory and honor
and profit of the other fellow is the be-
ginning of downfall. The party boss
will stand no such nonsense. That is
evidence OF an ungrateful. insubordinate
and rebellious spirit. and. as a general
thing, no time is lost in putting it down.
The evidences of punishment come
and swiftly. 1t is not necessary
for me to describe the symptoms of the
coming storm. These facts are familiar
to all of us. Occasionally an editor fights
the battle and wins victory; but oftener,
l regret to say, he speedily seeks cover.
hoists the flag of truce, and cries for
mercy.
FEW ANGELS IN THE BUSINESS
"A country editor ought to be an angel.
In fact and in practice. however. there
are not many angels In our ranks. There
are a few in Oklahoma, and they dwell
mostly within the Jurisdiction of the
Rock Island railroad-when they are at
home. There is Palmer of the Medford
Patriot. whose other cheek has been
meekly turned so often to receive the
fierce blow that it now acts automatic
ally; there is Isenberg of the Enid Wave,
whose angelic character has become pro-
verbal throughout the territory; there
is grand old man Ravens the sedate,
dgnified and dogmatic editor Of the
Enid Eagle: Roaring Tom Hensley Of
the FL Reno Democrat. who is a Demo-
crat in name and loyal Republican in
practice Thomas B. Ferguson of the
Watonga Republican. our own worthy
and amiable governor; John Galohia of
the Guthrie Register. whose angel wings
are Of recent maturity land there is-but
probably these personal references are
out of place. Upon reflection. however.
Frank Greer is added to the collection
without spostrophe.
MEN NOT ALL Ed
TORS.
"A newspaper man may not be an edi-
tor or he may be both. The most sue
cessful men are editors. They give their
entire time and attention to the business
end OF the printing office, carefully watch
ing the chekels as they come in and go
out But they know an editor at sight.
and know how to use him to the great
est profit This distinction rarely ap-
plies, however, TO members OF the coun-
try press. where the self-same individual
is often required to perform every office
IN connection with the establishment,
and occasionally play the devil to boot.
Il should say, as a general proposition
an editor ought to be able to write his
mother tongue. do not assert that this
is absolutely necessary 20 success. for
I have known instances in which the
editor could not do this; and yet he has
been able to command a living out Of
the business. However. II I were having
an editor made to order 1 should insist
upon investing him with this polite &C
for the sake OF the rising
If for no other reason
GIANTS ARE DRIVEN BY PIGMIES
A printing press is powerful wea-
pom When / was a small boy. and the
squirrel rife into which
the load had TO be pounded down with
a ram-rod. was circulating medium.
frequently heard it said by fathers 10 their
sons that A sun was a dangerous weapon
without a lock stock or barrel I have
personal reason. OF the most vivid kind.
10 know that this was true. Relatively
the same fact is true OF a printing press
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