The daily Alaskan., 1908-12-15
EDITORS IN POLITICS.

took a prominent part in the poliu' cal campaign which came to an end Nov. 8. There were undoubtedly al good many. and some of them prob ably think now they might have been better employed. Henry Watterson, for one. confesses he is getting too old 10 read the signs of the times with sufficient understanding to fore cast the result of an election. Surely there must be poignant humiliation in dlscredited prophecy when 1t causes au editor to confess he is growing old.
 There were number of editors ac. lively concerned in the management of the last campaign. The AmericanI Press cannot altogether refrain from asking if 1t would not be better for representatives Of other callings toI manage the campaign aud for editors to manage the managers-iu Sother words. to be free handed In the role of censors.
 The editors office IS peculiar, con. tinues the Press. In many cases his influence seems to wane in prOpor- ton to his activity in politics as an individual aside from his newspaper Somewhere is an unseen line dIvid' ing the province of the editor from that of the active politicians line unseen. but instinctiyely perceived by the public mind, which seems to dis credit the editor when he becomes the politician. If not an ayowed can. didate for office. he is regarded IS having ulterIor motives.
 But shall an editor be allowed to exercise the privileges of citizenship? Shall he not vote. persuade others. If he can. to vote his way and hold of, hce2 In many cases he Is better fit ted than any one else in his com munlty for an office. When hls fel' low citizens recognize this and thrust the office upon him 1t Is not for the American Press to say he should re- fuse. But we do say this-it Is sell dom that an editor holds office eI. cept at the expense of his paper. Frequently his paper is strong enoug to stand the strain, and he gratltIesI a laudable ambition.
 Often. however. the editor fails of election. and his paper suffers ser ious injury. In political campaigns he can save others: himself he can not save. Notwithstanding its great influence in the land the New York Tribune was powerless to make Gree ley president. Clark Howell is rec ognizea as one Of the foremost edi- tors of the south, but the Atlanta Constitution could not make him gov ernor. We do not forget It was said his opponent, Hoke Smith, was al newspaper man. but this was untrue. He at one time owned the Atlanta Journal. but he was and Is lawyer. No mistress as jealous as the law would have showered the favors she has upon him if he had shared his affections with the press. Years ago he sold his newspaper because it in. terfered with his law practice. I'm. agine a real newspaper man doing that!
 But the newspaper has it's triumphs in politics under proper conditions, The Constitution could not make Clark Howell governor. but JoeI PIown won against Hoke Smith in the subsequent election. and Brown made no speeches. He stayed at home and wrote pieces for the pa. pers," including the Constitution. The Constitution of course helped in other ways. Clark Howell's pen. pow erless in his own candidacy, became host when employed in the interests of Brown. There you have 1t In 2 nutshell.