The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-02-23
THE GRANGE
Conducted by
}. w. BARROW. Chatham, n. Y.
Press Correspondent New York State
Grange
AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
The Grange and the Press Discussed
by Miss Clara McDcrmid.
Especial correspondence

by Miss Clara McDcrmid.
Especial Correspondence.l
II has long been my conviction that
the grange does not half appreciate the
value of bright judiclous and persist
ent newspaper reporting. In my very
limited experience | have been much
Impressed with the large returns for
the labor expended. | have many times
been surprised at the number of people
outside the order who tell me that they
regularly read the grange reports and
at the interest displayed in quarters
where / least expected 1t. In interest
ing people in the grange or in anything
else we have at heart the personal
touch is indispensable, but it alone Is
too slow and laborious to accomplish
all that we need to accomplish. We
need the publicity which only the
newspaper can give us, and this, sup
plementcd by the warm human touch,
will awaken friendly interest which
will, believe, in time draw to us the
men and women whom we need and
WHO need our oruer.
But in emphasizing the value of
press work | must insist on the high
quality of that work. Nothing should
be reported which is not interesting to
the public and creditable to the grange.
The reports must not be commonplace
either in style or in subject matter.
They must be clear. concise and bright.
Some one says that selection is one of
the highest mental qualities. Certainly
il is one which is peculiarly necessary
to the grange reporter The ability to
seize the salient points and state them
clearly and forcibly, ignoring those of
less Importance, Is n prime requisite.
III addresses or discussions are to be
reported 1t is imperative that the
speaker be not misquoted nor his
rfews misrepresented. If the subject
Is an achievement of the grange, exag-
gerated statements or any attempt at
fine writing Is to be studiously avoid
ed. Overstatement and bombast will
bring the grange into ridcule and dis
repute.
; Systematic press work on q large
scale is a recent development and a
promising one. Very efficient work is
being done in New York, whose state
grange maintains press correspond
eut who sends out Il monthly bulletin
of grange news to 400 newspapers Of
that state. Without doubt this wide
spread advertising contributes much
TO the success of this leading grange
state. The correspondent also furnish
tss to the American Press Association
grange page. which Is used by about
150 papers in various parts of the
United States. The same correspond
ent supplies grange matter to a syndi-
cate of some fifty daily papers carry
ing daily agricultural department
and having a combined circulation OF
about 100000, as stated in the re-
port of the correspondent to the nation
al grange Grange leaders everywhere
recognize the great value to the Order
of this service, and 1t seems only n
question of time when 1t will become
even more far reaching and valuable
in the extension of the Order. But
while this systematic work covers the
hSiu llore easily anu completely lnun
any other agency can it will always
need to be supplemented by the bright,
prompt, clearly expressed local CORE
spondence.
Perhaps some mention should be
made of the grange departments of
various farm papers. Many of these
are of little interest to the general
public or indeed to the grange, because
they are SO evidently conducted in
perfunctory manner and are so pain
fully lacking In originality or force.
There are some notable exceptions,
however, which are helping to make
the Order widely and favorably
known. The contrast serves to Illus
trate the point have tried to make
that presswork badly done is by
word and reproach to the cause it
serves. Skillfully and conscientiously
done it Is a most effective agency for
strengthening and extending the work
and influence of the grange.
CLARA M'DERMID.
Battle Creek, Mich.