The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-09-13
BASE INeRATITUDE.

support column after column being
/ published IN their favor yet such IA
vors, when the test comes, are unap-
I preciated When you find your home
paper taking no interest in you or your
success when you find IL keeping az
/ gravatingly silent when you think the
editor should be tearing his linen in
/ your behalf-dO not work yourself into
| fever Of anxiety as TO the cause, but
/ just ask yourself wherein have you
! placed the paper and It's editor under
obligations TO use space and energy for
you. Milton Index.
Nothing upon earth could be more
true or more sad than the base In
gratitude exhibited by the average
successful office-seeker towards the
newspaper or newspapers or newspaper
men that have contributed to, if they
have not actually and solely accom-
plshed, his success.
One Of the first Of the many anxieties
and considerations which assail the
prospective candidate when he decides
TO run for Office Is the probablsattitude
Of his home paper; the next Is, the
possible support or opposition Of other
newspapers within his county, district or
State, whose relations towards him
may make or mar ids plans And with
what keen solicitude does he approach
the newspaper man, and seek 10 ascer-.
tain, first Of all, just how his aspira.
tons may be regarded. Sometimes he
sends a friend upon the delicate errand,
aud every subtle argument is put forth
20 secure the newspapers support. or,
at least, disarm its possible opposition
And when, with or without these eff
forts, the announcement Of support is
publicly made, how does the candidate
rejoice! II IS as If the battle was al
ready won and the jubiIant asDirant
and his friends lose no time in pointing
out TO individuaJ' voters who may be
wavering the certainty Of success as
sured by the advocacy of his claims
through the columns Of the printing
press.
The newspaper man, once committed
to the candidate, feels in honor bound
10 let pass no opportunity Of advancing
his political fortunes, and gives himself
up 10 the exigencies Of the contest with
a generous abandon which in itself car
ries conviction to many minds, and un-
Ill the last vote is counted, stands 10y
ally by the object Of his efforts.
The election over, the candidate safe
in his position, the scene changes.
Should the newspaper man, who has
done so much to ensure his election,
venture TO suggest policy or a course
Of action TO the official, he is snubbed,
and made 10 understand that his func-
ton is merely TO assist in the election
and not to dictate the conduct of the
official. Should he seek the aid or in
fluenee of the official in his own behalf
or that Of any friend for some minor
benefit, however innocent, he is met
with an assumption OF dignfed disap-
prevail and put off with some transpar-
ent platitude calculated to make him
keep his place"
Forgetfuness Of benefits conferred,
supercillous ignoring of serious obliga-
tions. offensive assumption Of superior
ity, constituting the basest Of ingrati-
tude, are too frequently the attributes
Of the successful candidate for office;
and when he desires to again become
a candidate, these things are remem-
bered
These observations are made, more
in sorrow than In anger, from the
standpoint of nearly half lifetime Of
newspaper work spent in securing Office
for the "other fellow.