The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-04-19

OUR OWN OPINIONS.
"Country Newspapers Opportunity to Help
the Other Fellow
Paper read at the meeting OF the Minnesota
Press association in Minneapolis Feb. Is and
16. 1906, by R. G. Dunn. Several Of our news
paper brethren have requested copies OF the
paper, and the cheapest and easiest way Of
complying with their requests is to print it.
PUB. UNIoN.J
"Brevity is the soul of w.t." This
paper will not be witty, but it will be
brief. The topic assigned me, "Coun-
try Newspapers Opportunity to Help
the Other Fellow is fruitful one.
Much might be said on the subject.
The opportunities and the fellows are
plentiful. But will only scratch the
surface. In the days that are flown
I have helped many another fellow
more than my share, perhaps-but
very recently have had deuce of a
time in trying to convince the ''other
fellow" that it was his bounden duty
to help me, and I regret to say that
my efforts were not altogether success
full. Perhaps that is the reason which
prompted our worthy president to give
me this assignment.
The opportunities offered country
newspapers for helping or injuring
the ''other fellow" are multitudinous.
Some fellows deserve to be helped;
others do not. The editor must exer-
else his own discretion and govern
himself accordingly. Country news
papers are called upon to help politi-
clans oftener than any other class of
people, and politicians are the indi-
viduals who stand in the greatest need
of newspaper assistance. The politi-
clan who can command a respectable
country newspaper support has de-
cided advantage over his opponent.
Shrewd politicians recognize this fact;
hence they take good care to cultivate
the friendship of the country press.
Politics is tabooed in this associa-
ton, and rightly so, and I am not 60
ing to trespass on forbidden ground.
However, will offer this little bit of
gratuitous advice to my brethren of
the country press and those of the city
newspapers as well: Treat your
political opponents as fairly as you
can. You may have been "retained"
or "instructed" to misrepresent and
belittle the ''other fellow,' but that
"other fellow" may be just as honest
and competent, just as good a father
and husband, as the fellow you are
supporting. Then do not wantonly
Witty the ''other fellow" You will
feel better about it when the fight is
over, no matter whether the candidate
you supported is victorious or de-
feated. There will be political bat
ties fought and won when you and I
and all of us shall have crossed the
"great divide" And remember
The praise that thrills the heart the scorn
JndG ayes Win shame the brow.
Will be as long forgotten dreams hundred
years from now.
In this connection permit me to say
that the country newspaper man who
depends on the city: dailies for his in
formation in matters political is lean
ing on broken reed. Speaking from
personal knowledge, I have no hesita-
tion in saying that nine-tenths of the
political gossip that appears in the
columns of some of the city dailies is
the merest rot-pipe dreams of imag-
NATIVE space filters who are trying to
earn their salaries and have little re-
gard for the truth so long as the stuff
makes readable story.
Why is it that many country news
paper publishers appear to be so anx-
ious to help those who injure them
and their patrons? Why, for in
stance, should a country newspaper
assist in building up the circulation
of the weekly edition of the big city
daily-a weekly, simply the cuttings
from the daily, pitchforked together
by the foreman? The city weekly is
offered you for clubbing purposes at
Is or rs cents per year. The country
publisher imagines this is a splendid
opportunity for increasing the circula-
tion of his paper and eagerly jumps
at the proposition. In large black
faced type he announces that he will
furnish his own paper and the city
weekly for the regular subscription
price charged for the former, say 81
per year. What is the result? All
the prompt paying subscribers of the
country weekly avail themselves of the
offer-very few new subscribers are
ever obtained through any clubbing
arrangement and the city weekly has
added several hundred names to it's
already colossal subscription list.
Circulation is what the cute pub