Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-11-30

0@hoDA@1A~A
in the advance steps the community and it's people
have made. Many thousands Of dollars worth of
investments have been made during this period in
industries which give employment and bring to the
city the products of the field and forest Many to-
day are building up profitable enterprises which
we're not even conceived five years ago. Such as
the oil mill the handle factory, the ice plant and
various other industries now in successful opera
tions.
The varied demands made upon a newspaper, arc
more extensive than those made upon any other
enterprise in community. Even the minister,
who is expected to give patient ear TO all who
have woes is circumscFibed by the circle worship
ing or visiting his church and in each community
there are a number OF churches and ministers to di
vide these duties. But the editor Is the haven OF
all, and to enumerate the calls upon him every
week, is but to cover the entire woes and sorrows
and msfortunes pleasures aud hopes OF every body.
When baby is born, the editor must notice it
aud promptly, or invoke the displeasure OF the
proud parents. AS it grows he must keep track OF
it, listen to its first smart sayings In prose il not in
verse. When it reaches an age to admit OF its en-
terance into society he must speak OF it's culture,
keep close watch of it as it goes and comes from
college, and il 1t is girl, when she ''comes Out he
must tell how beautiful and accomplished shC u.
When she marries, he must give half a column or
more space to tell about the wedding, and when the
death angel comes he must stTew flowers O'er the
bier and t0OW 10 TO the last feSGng place Ia tears
IL there is any abuse in the community the ed
tor must bear all the Odium Of directing public at
tention to it, Plenty will be ready to show him the
defects, but the publication must be made at the
editors risk and expense, without the real kicker
thinking of having his name connected with the
complaint or criticism.
In other words, the editor is the beast Of burden
In every community. He must praise those who
covet homage at his hand withhold criticisms II they
will reflect upon any prominent citizen, and IN Short
he mast weep with those who sorrow, smile with
those who rejoice and do the bidding OF the Bosses
be they clean or foul, and il an old sinner dies he
must refrain from rejoicing over the blessing to the
hcOmmunity by PrOvidential removal, and paint the
| old whelp as a saint.
All in all the lot OF the editor is not really bed
Of roses. Few care for bis annoyances, his misiOr
tunes and yet he is used by everybody, and when
he passes over the dark river even those who have
read his paper for years without even as much
as giving thought to paying for it, will comment
upon bis short cOmings, because he did not do
for the community than he did while alive
And yet there are sunshny sides to the editor 8
life He rides on a railroad pass and never has to
do more than few hundred dollars worth Of ad-
Vertising for a fifty dollar pass. How much more
fortunate than the other citizens Of this community
in this particular, who pay their fare. II he is cap
able OF the duties he assumes, he has many advan-
tages over any other member of society. II he has
convictions he can have an audience to lay them be.
fence with single editorial than any other man in
his community and If he does not abuse this pre-
rOgratiVe, he may become power after all, for 1t
his writings are lucid and honest, he ejOys conf
ldence in the minds Of all his readers that even
minister does not enjoy with all his Pensioners.
In reality be has in his grasp, If be is a man Of
judgment and decision, power to make or break any
one in his community. His paper is bigger, no mat
ter how modest than any bank or business house In
the community where it is published, if, OicOurse,
be chooses TO test its power.
! But as stated before, this paper, under it's pres
ent management, has never aspired to build itself
up by tearing down anybody else. II prefers to
build up all around it, relying upon its own power
to succeed as its neighbOrs succeed, and this will
continue to be its policy. Five years may not be
q sufieienu probation, time enough for as to feel
that we are part and parcel Of the community in
which our al is vested, and where we fully intend
to pass the remainder Of the span Of life allotted to
u.s. Be this as it may, have not complaint to reg
ister but promise continuance OF the same policy
heretofore adhered to- and leave the matter Of ap-
prOVa or rejection Of this policy to those who are
interested in the city, the state and the South our
home IS we'll as theirs.
/ urrrv T,ITC COTrTII WIFI CDOW