The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27

linquent receiving statement when ne
owes specified sum. say two years SUD-
scription, and then the follow-up system
should be employed in case he does not pay.
The country weekly should cultivate Its
field. II should print the news OF Its field.
1t is not necessary TO display scandals or
parade man or woman'S shame. But the
news should be given without bias or com
ment, without fear or favor. The danger
Gus practice of commenting on local news
or of preaching a sermon or OF augmenting
an unpleasant news item by apologies for
its publication should be avoided.
The country weekly should be on init
mate terms with its country correspond
ents. They are the faithful portion OF the
Office machine which expect no money and
never wear out. The good will OF the Office
should be shown by copies OF magazines.
by little jobs OF printing gratuitously done.
and by an annual reunion. The copy of
hese correspondents. carefully edited,
Mould be printed fully. Correspondents
hould be taught to write the facts without
| ,omment. The correspondent should be en-
couraged to allow his identity TO become
known, because he will then be more alert
Tor news, more careful of what he writes,
and VIII be sought by those who have
| news.
Full reports of all bodies having to do
with public business should be printed.
/ Within the town, no meeting OF the Town
| Council should be held without the editor
or an assistant being present The court
! house is a prolific source of news as i'm
| poTtant to county readers as the Wash
! politan papers print with great spread. The
! social events OF the ladies should have due
mention and the small local matter should
\ be completely rounded out. Despise not the
| small item. The painting of Tim Jones's
| barn is as much neighborhood news and
\ as important as the golf score of the MEM
bSrs of the Country Club.
There is a saying that woman's work
| is never done. Likewise. the newspaper
u ans work. He must carry in his mind
three issues-the last. the one in hand and
! the che of the coming week. In the null
| uplicity Of small things. the editor must
! not allow himself TO be ridden. The obituary
poetry should not be printed except at regu-
lar advertising rates. Lengthy obituaries
should pay the same. The pay entertain
ment by church. lodge or society should
pay in cash its tribute to the power of the
press.
The editor should sink himself in his work.
/ The country weekly is greater than it's edi-
tor. He must forget self, must become a
| nonenity so far as the paper is concerned.
must not let the world know of his per-
! sonal differences through his columns He
should never refer to himself as the editor.
| BE should be careful Of the use of the edi-
! torlai we. Yet. the editor. the man him
self. must be so impressed upon his pa per
that he will be known through it and when
a leader is required. his style should be so
| known that his readers may know the old
man himself is speaking.
Toward his contemporary the conduct of
| the editor of the country weekly should be
| gentlemanly. Nothing should be printed.
as opinion. that will reflect upon the honor
or the profession. The editors private opin-
| ion OF the other editor should be for home
! reflection. hardly trusting them to the wife
| of his bosom. There should be no mud
| fllnging and there should be a community
| of interests i'm those matters where each
! Is interested. More than one far-sjphted
editor in this land has enjoyed the free adj
| Vertising his jealous contemporary gives
him by unnrovoked attacks to which re-
ply is never penned.
And finally. the great need of the country
press is purpose. Lack of purpose has
. wrecked more than one brilliant prospect
paper should have purpose-should
! have at the helm n strong man whose eve
can see through the fogs of uncertainties
/ and hold the paper straight upon it's course.
| Purpose In the editor solves many of the
| perplexing problems that arise 1t light
| ems his burdens. 1t Eliminates his pathway
| because strange gods and brides have no
| effect upon him who has purpose, a noble
| God-given, high-minded purpose which rec
ognizes that right is sure to prevail, that
| tho people are not always to be deceived,
! that justice will triumph that the Lord
| and one make a majority.
These things done. the salvation of the
country press is assured The metropol-
itan papers may send their issues into his
field on every train. his farmer friends NAV
receive their dailes at their door vet the
country weekly will be firmly fixed in
the affections and desires OF the people that
no competition can injure it. These prin-
! ciples must endure because they are lust
and right Justice and right insure the
salvation of the country press.