Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-08-08
The Importance Of an Understanding
Between Thorn,

o importance or an understanding
Between Thorn.
John A. sleicher, editor Of Leslie's Week
~, In an address on THE Editor and the
Banker" delivered before the National
Editorial association in session at Omaha
this week, spoke In part as follows:
Wealth means money, but II Is not
money until IL Is converted into cash, or
credit. Usually the equivalent Of cash.
Business men are seeking a safe process
by which wealth can be conveniently ex-
changed into cash. The more complicated
the method Of exchange the more difficult
II becomes to obtain money for the uses
OF commerce, and the greater the hard
ships Of those who a wealth and need
money or credit, the greater the suffering
OF all. Newspaper publishers can endure
a panic perhaps as we'll as any other In
dustrial class. but no one wants a panic
less than we. and no members of so
ciety have 1t In their power to aid moro
potentially In preventing or In bringing
on q panic than editors, great and small.
This Is the reason why l depart from the
customary usage and deal with a subject
not ordinarily touched upon at our oon-
ventions.
IF the editor seeks a special article for
his columns. he obtains II from a special
list. II he Is gathering facts on agricul-
ture. he talks with a farmer. II no Is
reviewing O medical case, ne consults q
physician or a surgeon. II he Is discuss
ing theology, he appeals to q clergyman,
or law, to q lawyer. Why, therefore, In
discussing business matters and banking.
should he not consult the banker3 How
many editors In our smaller communities
are guided In their utterances on 1nan-
cial questions by the opinions Of the local
banker, the best financial authority In the
1 -ln~A0 VAI- lAAnl nNL 10 N.n1 nnA
Of your ablest business men, whose sue
cess has emphasized his integrity and
honesty, and he Is a safe adviser. Finan-
cial questions are too often made political
issues, and the editor, ignoring the bank
er, takes his cue from tho politician. who
probably knows less about finance than
any other man In the community, and
whose contempt for the editor has just
been shown in boss-ridden Pennsylvania
by the passage Of a libel law SO infamous
hat no decent citizen In the common
wealth can defend II.
mot In this generation have our finances
been In a more critical condition. Emf
nent members of the senate are now con-
sulting and are preparing, months before
tho approaching session, to meet the re-
quirements Of an extraordinary situation.
Unless substantial agreement, on conser-
vative lines, Is secured. SO that congress
can act promptly. all business interests
must suffer severely. 1t Is a grave sltua.
tion, and, as editors, we have every right
to be concerned about II.
The question rises higher than any
plane Of politics. II involves the patriot.
ism Of every citizen. Where do we And
better citizens than the bankers of our
home communities7 Who command the
public confidence and respect In greater
degree2 To whom do we appeal to lead
In every good work. to aid In our phil
anthropies and TO help uplift our civic
pride? No bank will fail to be honored
by q call from the editor Of his local paper
for advice regarding financial legislation,
and with the benefit of such advice the
editor can deal more satisfactorily with
fiscal problems than II he follows the
whims and notions Of political speilbind-
ers or pays heed to the pleadings Of sell
fish partisans.
mo one Is more stalwart In his parti-
sanship than I am, but there are questions
which transcend politics and which do
not belong to its domain. Let the editor,
as a leader in his community, lead not
only in party matters. but let him lead
in every patriotic purpose and In every
movement for the public welfare. Let him
remember that the basis Of a successful
government, the foundation OF business
prosperity. Is a safe, secure and settled
lie for him and for all the best interests Of
banking system, and that the nearer the
editor gets to the banker the better II will
the community In which both reside"