Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-01
aalisesllansors Rsaaing.
THE COUNTRY EDITOR.
Interesting Appreciation BY the Late
John A. johnson.

4
| Some time ago, Gov. John A. john
son Of Minnesota, news Of whose sad
death reaches us just as we are going
to press, prepared an article for the
Youths Companion on "The Country
Editor" and it appeared in the issue
of September 9, of that paper. He had
written out Of the practical expert
ences Of his own life, having been
editor for years Of a weekly paper at
st. Peter, MINI. He says:
If were asked the main point Of
difference between the rural and the
urban editor, should say it is largely
o matter Of personality. In the one
case the personality is the chief asset;
in the other 1t is no longer appreciable.
Few Of the great city newspapers
print the names Of their editors, and
often no one knows their guiding
spirits. The editorial page is regarded
as the expression Of the paper, not as
the conviction Of person.
| Almost unconsciously the great
newspapers have undergone a process
of eliminating the Individual. AS
whole they have not deteriorated in
literary quality; on the contrary, we
have better newspapers. The editor
ials are just as sound and the news
features just as interesting-but the
man behind is no longer visible.
In the country the editor lives near
to natures heart" He Is part and
parcel of the community life. Every
body knows him. When he chronicles
the arrival of the bouncing boy" or
when he extends condolences to "the
bereaved family" those interested feel
the gentle touch Of friendly hand.
He records triumphs and successes In
the spirit of participation; his chroni-
Gle Of vicissitudes and struggles and
sorrows has the element Of personal
sympathy.
In its general aspect the country
town is not different from the large
city. Here there are the same divi-
sions and strata Of society; the same
social and political problems; the
same surses Of ambition; the same
world old combat Of greed and power
with chivalry and self-restraint. But
in the country town a common bond
of sympathy runs through all the ele-
ments Of social life. In the last analy-
sis the newspaper is mirror. reflect
ing the hopes and aspirations, the
trials and tribulations Of the people
It serves. The country community is
bound with a closer intimacy, and for
that reason the attitude Of its news
papers is necessarily more provincial
and paternal.
No Mystery About Him.
| The environment and the duties Of
the country editor tend to make him
fair critic and safe Judge Of men
and measures, for the nature Of his
work accustoms him to weigh opin-
ions in the even balance. Unlike the
lawyer, always special pleader, or
other professional men confined by a
narrow outlook on a single phase Of
life, the editor is the impartial record
er and reviewer, seeking the truth.
The lawyer has an easy road to
fame compared with that Of the editor.
AS ex-President Cleveland set forth in
his last article In the Companion,
there is an air Of mystery surrounding
the intricacies of the law. The ex-
igencies of the profession required the
lawyer to be a ready and fluent speak
er, and this power is an aid to promi-
nence in public affairs. There is moth
ing mysterious about the country edi-
tor-unless 1t be the source Of his In
come! The school teacher, the minis
ter, the young college graduate, and
numerous other people about the town
know, or think they know, how to run
newspaper better than does the edi-
tor. He Is not always given the op-
portunity for training as a public
speaker, and the nature Of his work
in a measure units him for quick
thinking and clear expression before
people. His composition is Of slower
process and is done in the quiet Of the
sanctum, where only the rhythmic
throb Of the presses and the gentle
click of the type are heard.
But the influence Of the writer Is
more lasting than that Of the orator.
and even for temporary purposes is
often as great.
| The degree Of success in either case
is, Of course, largely matter Of abili-
ty, but frequently when a community
finds itself in position to confer the
mark Of greatness upon one Of its
number, 1t will lay the laurel crown
at the feet Of the editor-provided the
lawyers arc all busy, or do not happen
to be looking when the call comes.
Then, too, the lawyer has the ad-
vantage Of a professional training,
which seldom is vouchsafed to the edi-
itor. There is no school for country
journalism, and the editor usually ac-
quires his knowledge and experience
in the hard school of the country
printing office, advancing to the sue
cessive stages of the work as ability
and opportunity allow.
But, after all, prominence and ap-
plause are not always a just measure
Of the success which men attain; there
are victories along "the cool seques-
tered vale" no less important than the
victories achieved in "the madding
crowds ignoble strife"
Although the average editor is prone
to regard himself in the light Of "a
mute, inglorious Milton" the profess
sion has contributed very largely to
public life.
1t has often been said that Minneso-
to is governed by the country editor.
This may not be strictly true, but
certainly the fourth estate" is more
numerously represented there in pub
lie places than in any other COM
monwealth.
A State Where Editors Rule!
The governor, his private secretary
and executive clerk are country news
paper men; so are the labor commits
sioner, the executive agent of the