The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-04-17

but had q feeling that it would
come in the natural order of things.
But to my establishment Mr.. Aiken,
instead of appearing belligerent, was
friendly; instead of regarding me
as an obstreperous usurper, extend
ed the .glad hand and offered with
unfeigned sincerity any assistance
that might be needed. So far as /
know neither of US ever spoke un-
kindly of the other, or ever tried to
take business advantage of the
other; and it is one of the pleasant
est things in my memory that when
| left the Falls for a new field of
labor there was not, among the
press notices, one that was kindlier
or more sympathetic than the one
penned by my late business COM
petitor.
Now to your question about quit
ting the business of running a coun-
try newspaper to accept political
position: No two experiences are
exactly alike and no two answers
would be alike. 1t all hinges upon
the point of view. There is nothing
more fascinating to me than the
work Of editing a country paper. 1t
is work which constantly develops
and broadens one who is devoted to
| it, and it carries with it sufficient
responsibility to inspire a certain
degree of seriousness. | have never
felt entirely at home since | threw
off the editorial harness. | have had
longing all these years to resume
the work, and have constantly had
line out for a good field. But all
! the papers that have been for sale,
those which came to my notice.
have had some unsatisfactory feat
ure, while desirable ones do not
seem to be for sale. | would buy a
paper tomorrow if one were offered
at satisfactory place and price,
and the statement, alone, comes
pretty near answering your ques-
/ ton.
When | accepted political job at
ST. Paul | did so temporarily, as |
supposed, and circumstances, rather
than inclination, have made me hang
on to it. There are many disagree
able features connected with poll
teal position. One must sometimes
say things that he docs not think,
and at other times he thinks
things that he would not dare to
say. This stiles ones independence
to a degree and entails a loss of self
respect. Life in the cities has many
pleasant features, but others equally
unpleasant. One grows weary of
the smoke and the din and the jost-
ling, and longs for the pure air and
quiet of the country. Political posi-
tons generally pay salary above
the income of the average country
paper, but the inroads made upon
salaries by the increased cost of liv-
ing, political assessments and other
demands are much greater than one
would suppose. One must have a
certain amount of political influence
to hold political office and it takes
money to acquire and maintain that
influence. Money spent in this way
is not necessarily spent corruptly.
A man who is running good,
clean country newspaper is much
more looked up to and respected in
his town than one holding a political
position is. in the place where he is
obliged to live; and if the paper
yields good living the owner makes
a great big mistake when he aban.
dons it to take a government, state
or other job. Of course, this does
not apply to man who can become
: secretary of state or governor.
w. M. TODD.
St. Anthony Park. April 9Th, 1906
FIFTY YEARS AGO.