The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-03-19
WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS SHOULD BE
INDEPENDENT AND TAKE A PART
IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL AFFAIRS

on the other hand. cannot get away
from them, ever If he tried. He knows
what his people think, and it is his
Inty to give their ideas to the world.
Il is his duty to tell the senator from
his state and the congressman from
his district what the people want. 1t
is not his duty to induce the people
to do certain things simply because
those who pose as the leaders of the
party say so, but it is his duty to say
TO this generally self constituted lead
crs,, my people demand that you do
50 and So
Orders should come not from Wash.
ington to the people, but they should
90 from the people to Washington.
Too long has it gone the wrong way
ard a weekly paper too modest of its
own opinions, too easily led by poll
t%icians has been very largely to blame.
In saying this / have no reference to
recent eveu,s, for | have long enter
tanned the opinion that the country
paper should be the mirror of the
ideals of the people, not the porrot TO
repeat the PHRASES CT the politician.
On the other hand / do not advise the
utter ignoring of party leaders, the
casting aside of ali advice, but those
who seek to lead should be made to
ealize that their first allegiance is TO
the people.
Neither on thu other hand should
the country editor be a puppet to bow
to every within of the population, for
the people, as we know, are not always
right. Judgment must be used in this
las in everything else, but the editor
who with a firm intention to do right,
honestly endeavors to represent the
best thought Of his community will
seldom be far astray. The editor, as {
rule. is a mar of better motives and
OF higher ideals than the ordinary
politician. Why, then shoald the eai
tor trim his sails to the political breeze
or why should he be afraid to assert
what be thinks to be right, or ever
tell the politician what the politician
ought to do.
Not only is it the duty of the weekly
editor to do his share in county politics
but he is Sinking a duty when it
he becomes an editor if he refuses 70
play his part, In this discussion, how
ever, it is necessary to %presuppose that
The sditor possesses a good proportion
of brains and some political sagacity.
IT he is not the possessor of this sa-
gacity, certainly it is the wisest thing
Il him to keep out Of politics, or
else select some advisor whom he
knows to be honest and DISTINGUISHED
and who can supply the sagacity.
But it does not, gentlemen, generally
require tremendous sagacity to distin-
guish between right and wrong, ard
you need have no fear that a fight for
the right, as you honestly see it, will
injure you with the people, even if you
do happen to make Il mistake. If you
have never tried it dip in, and you
will be surprised at the friends you
win make, while even those opposed
to you will hold you in more respect
if convinced that you were animated
by a high purpose.
1t has been remarked that the week
" editor in New Hampshire has never
been consulted in politics Gentlemen,
You do not want to be consulted. When
YOU are consulted your hands are tied.
Give them your opinion before they
have one themselves, and her when
they come to consult you, tell them
to consult your columns. Be not th4
first by whom the new be tried. but b.
the first to advocate what is right,
and the politician will then have GO
follow your lead or else 60 down. Be
independent enough ever to eensuff
your own party and support the othef
when your party is wrong and II.
other party is right, and by thI&
means show conclusiveiy to the part1
leaders that they must be right to have
vour supporot. You are answerahi.
to the people, but the politician u
answerable to nobody. Why. Chen.
should you allow the dictation of any
politician!