The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-03
INCOMPETENT, TARDY
OR INDIFFERENT? +?

The city dallles are presumed W give
quick trend to public thought on ques'
tions of public Importance; so that when
the patron of his favorite daily, whether
he be Republican or Democrat, turns
anxiously to the editorial page to see
whether or not his views on some new
question which has arisen, and has been
given much space in the news columns
of said paper, are or are not orthodox,
he may find out "where," as a party
man, "he is at" But as q general
thing, nowadays, at least, he finds him
self woefully disappointed. In the great
majority of cases the great journals OF
the cities, while giving acres OF the stun
upon which opinions, favorable or con-
demnatory are to be formed, are as dumb
as oysters as to what the proper verdict
should be.
The late Howkin B. Besrdslee, of ag-
sressive Democratic memory, had an
idea of his own on this point. On being
asked by a neophyte journalist, how,
with said youngsters limited knowledge
OF public affairs, he should be sure'to
know which side to take on subjects on
which party lines were sure to be drawn,
which might come mp suddenly, and re-
uuire prompt comment, his advice was:
"Oppose everything the Wings favor J"
This was pretty safe counsel. The
publisher of hebdomadal had from a
day to weeks time to find out on which
side his patty, or the other organization,
asrepresented byits daily journals, stood,
and could govern himself accordingly;
but in this year of our Lord, it looks as
though the country dailies, and semi
veeklies and tri-weeklies and even week
lies are depended upon by the big city
papers, to give the proper cue for COM
ment and criticism on one side or the
other of important questions.
At all events it is a rare thing to find
comprehensive, analytical. instructive
editorial in any city paper, based upon
the most important political or govern
mental event which occupies the star
position in its news columns on the same
day. Frequently, even though presi-
DENTAL message, or a. congressional de-
bate, or an important governmental re-
port may fill page after page, there will
not be a ripple in the editorial columns
to show that the political .seismograph
has indicated the slightest disturbance.
Country people take country news
papers for country information, mainly.
The local and personal departments
which make their home journals well
come visitors at their firesides, are the
butt of the city editors jokes, and their
items are never reproduced in the great
metropolitan publications columns, ex-
cept in ridcule. 1t is mistake, how
ever, to regard every one living out of
town, no matter how bucolic his tastes
or rustic his appearance, as an Ignorant
"jay." Most of them have thoughts
reaching out far beyond the environ
ments of their country village; anxieties
for the welfare of the State and Nation
keen as those of their wealthy city neigh
bors, and many of them, in addition to
the little home daily or weekly, patronize
the pretentious publications of the great
commercial and political centers.
They do this, because, like country
editors, they want to be up-to-date, and
they feel that those who assume to guide
the intelligent thought of the nation
should be worthy of the trust which
they have accepted. Let us have timely,
thoughtful, convincing editorials, in the
big dailies, promptly, when occasion de-
mands or warrants.