The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-29
OUGHT A LIVE NEWSPAPER MAN
RUN FOR OFFICE?

Governor of Georgia are three men
Who have won large success as edi-
tors-Colonel Estill. of the Savannah
Morning News; Clark Howell. of the
Atlanta Constitution, and Hoke Smith
long at the head of the Atlanta Jour-
nal 1t is a warm contest. too, and
promises to get warmer before the
primaries are held. Writing of the
contest, the Springfield Republican
says:
These are good men and fit. but
he two editors who are in active
service could do more for their State
oy remaining in their sanctums. NG
i've newspaper man has any business
seeking or holding public office"
There have been exceptions to the
rule, but history shows that editors
who have been ambitious have lost
their influence as editors and often
failed to succeed in their political as
pirations, or, If successful lived to re-
gret that they had not been content
to remain in the sanctum.
In many respects the greatest editor
AI1STlCd Has hUONIl wac IloioSS 'iNN-
ley. He was an editor because he
had ideas and convictions that he
thought would bless the world. He
wrote from strong convictions and his
paper became a power in politics,
able ito kill and make alive" For
years he made Senators and helped to
make presidents, and then the ques-
ton kept coming into his mind: why
should 1 not be President myself and
put into operations the principles for
which / stand?" 1t was not merely
a selfish ambition that prompted that
question. for he believed that he could
serve his country in a way that would
advance it's welfare. No truer patriot
has aspired to national honors in
half a century But he was des-
tined to fail and to die of broken
heart, for that was the malady that
killed Horace Greeley. In every ele-
ment of ability and craftsmanship he
was the superior to the successful
soldier who defeated him. He knew
it and he could not survive what he
deemed the ingratitude of the people
for whom he had labored-while
Grant had never turned his hand for
civic virtue or to serve his country
until he became a soldier.
In North Carolina, before the war.
William w. Holden was the foremost
Democratic editor. His paper was as
great a power in this State as was
Greeleys in the nations. He had the
largest voice i'm naming candidates,
and i'm shaping policies. After awhile
he began to say to himself: why
shouldn't be Governor myself instead
of working always for men who have
not served the party with half the
devotion and sacrifice that has char
acterized my life?" The idea grew
Governor dominated his life. He had
a large following, but another was
nominated, and to his disappointment
may be traced his subsequent politi-
cal career, at variance with the spirit
of all his earlier years. He became
Governor, 1t is true, in a time of revo-
luton and change. but the honor
brought him neither happiness nor the
usefulness of which he had dreamed
in the fifties.
On the other hand. the founder OF
the Springfield OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Bowles-the foremost editor New Eng
land has known, while exercising large
influence in the political world, es-
chewed political ambition, and was
satisfied that he was doing the great
est public service of which he was ca
pable i'm building up the Springfield
Republican into great newspaper and
command more influence than any
journal in Boston, and he established
it upon foundations so broad and firm
that ii still lives, breathing the spirit
that Samuel Bowles put into it eighty
one years ago when the word Re
publican described the party found
ed by Jefferson. Always independent
and never neutral the Republican has
grown steadily in circulation and in
influence, so that in it's columns today
1t is seen that, though dead, Samuel
Bowles yet speaketh." The present
editor voiced the real sentiment OF
Mr.. Bowles when he said: mo live
newspaper man has any business seek
ing or holding public office"