Willmar tribune., 1907-12-04

papers as the Willmar Tribune, the
Waseca Herald, the Window Re-
porter, the Western Guard, the Fer
gus Globe, ,Ungdommens Ven, the
Mankato Journal, the Pennington
Herald, the Spring Valley Mercury
and half a hundred other papers
with editorial backbone, while it
seldom or never appeared in the
papers with only editorial wishbone.
So we asked.
We inquired Of few prominent
editors how it happened that the
strong, courageous, clear cut pa
pers could proftably use our ma
terial while some of the brethren
thought it unworthy or unprofit-
able. And we found out.
We learned something that ought
to be in the hands Of every patriotic
citizen Of this nation. 1t proves
again that the vile traffic is a
sneak, that it is afraid of the light.
That it should be allowed to say
what the papers shall print is dis
grace. That it should be allowed
to dictate whether or not the people
may read of its doings makes US
think of that other Czar who also
has a fight on his hands. A coura-
geous editor told as.
MIR. Carl A. Wold, of the Brandon
(Minn.) } Echo, furnished these facts
"This town is a regular hornets
nest When l assumed the manage
ment Of the Echo I decided to elm
mate everything bearing upon liq-
uor advertising. A storm of pro-
est followed. The first week a
large umber Of people refused their
paper. | was determined, and ad-
vertised a temperance speaker; sew
eral more stops. Next week l gave
synopsis of the speech; an uproar
and more stops. The circulation
had almost fallen below the re-
quired 240 and matters were be-
coming rather serious. But took
their bluff. After a while | sug.
gested that it was rather suspicious
to hear loud noise in our saloons
on Sundays. Then there was oper
war. Next morning came orders
to forthwith remove certain ads
did it. But by this time the
country began to take notice anc
subscriptions were coming in nice
ly and l continued the fight from
this time on more vigorously thar
ever. No one of my family or hell
could pass up town unmole,ted. II
fact, they tried to make matters 81
disagreeable that | would change
my policy.
TO give the entire history woule
be too long and unnecessary.
mention these facts merely as evi
.dence why 50 many editors refu@t
temperance matters in their publica
tions. The saloon element know'
no bounds and will ruin anyone wht
dares to pronounce a word agains
it, if it can. The country stand
by me nobly and in couple O:
townships public meetings were
held, passing resolutions to stan(
by me to the very end. In one O:
these meetings $45 was subscribed
for the Echo. l have now three
times the circulation that l had a
first. Circulation is the first con
sideration for an advertiser, bu
some of the merchants seem to bt
somewhat under the influence of :
bluff from the saloons and dare not
or else they are sympathizers will
the saloon element and do not ad
vertise. The whole thing is a huge
bluff, but very few editors coule
stand such an onslaught. 1t is thei1
duty to provide for their families
and under such circumstances they
could not do it. They prefer to re
fuse the truth about the saloons
and remain in peace.
People love fair play. My sub
scription list proves it. Give me
two more years and l am confdenr
that it will equal any in this sec
tion. shall not ask advertising a!
a matter of charity. In conclusion
[ shall say that it is entirely unfair
to deprive the subscribers of the
privilege of learning both sides O:
such very vital issue as the tenn
perance issue. The Prohibition
Press Bulletin gives the most com
plete exposition of the temperance
view / have ever seen. l also favor
reproducing the saloonkeepers' side
if it could be obtained. Any edi
tor who willingly conceals the fact.
is not true American citizen. L
is the duty Of every editor to pub
lish facts and allow his readers t
decide. The majority of the read
ers will be less apt to make mis-
take than the editor Influenced b!
such forces as mentioned above -
| ~
The Minnesota liquor traffic, be
tween Nov. l9 and 23. 1907, pre-
sents the following record: fou1
drunk men committed suicide; ont
drunk man was killed by train
one drunk man committed murder
two men were seriously injured