The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-12-23

No more, no less. And when the editor
OF the paper is man in whom the public
has confidence, then the power of the la
Dor paper is beyond computing
The publication of labor paper is a
thankiess task unless organizations are
back of it morally, and the individuals
of the unions are behind it financially.
The writer ventures the assertion that
more labor papers have been started on
nothing and died of starvation than any
other class of publications, and all be-
cause the good they do is so subtle and of
such an elusive quality that they are
not thought of in the light of power
unseen until the last faint flicker of life
has departed, and its ghostly toes are
turned to heaven g blue and s.ye editor
man - has sought some more lucrative,
If less heroic, means of sustenance
The suggestion is ventured that each
reader of this article has never thought
much of the influence this paper has upon
his present knowledge of the Importance
OF organization, but at the same time he
would readily confess that it would be
missed if its weekly visits ceased
If the paper you read most gives a
reason for a thing which you had never
thought of, you have learned something
which adds to the sum total of your know.
ledge, but did you ever stop to consider
that what you store in your knowledge of
much reasoning and cogitation and
thought on the part of the writer! That
IS influence, and influence keeps paper
popular, just the same that subscription
and advertising money is needed to keep
| 1t alive That kind of success is spelled
band wagon, and particularly
large rock might cause the unseatine of
the succecder, - but lasting and sincere
success is composed Of confidence, and
confidence is begotten of deep study and
interchangeable labor.
When You have confidence in Your labor
paper you remember it's teachings, and
that is what is truthfully termed influence
and that the same influence it bears unon
you it sometimes takes rude shock to
awaken one of the sense of it, aHa-t
awakening is sometimes just in time to
view the remains of the dear departed.
Lets remember our part to our labor
papers, for by them are our aims, objects
and ambitions made known.
The labor press operates in field dis.
tlnctly its own; more so than any other
class paper. Take as an instance, a Sc.
cret order or religious paper, and the
things which interest the readers of those
papers are of interest to every class of
reader-for capitalist, for professional
man, business man and laborcr-are al
ways welcome within the folds of these
orders or lodges, as they are founded
upon the broad democratic PRINCIPLES of
brotherhood, and, therefore, happenings
of moment within their ranks are of more
or less interest to the vast reading public
to which all secular dailies cater, but not
so the organized laboring mans paper
for he is member of a particular class
of citizcnry, he belongs to an order
peculiarly constructed, for it draws its
membership from n class of people which
IS organized sclf-dcfensc, ana for that
reason, If no other, matters of vital i'm.
port to itself are of no friendly interest
to any other class of people,
Doctrines, remedies and sermons from
every conceivable source could not have
their effect for good upon the organized
Glass; Tor, to greater or less extent
they would be but theories; therefore. no
LISTING benefit could be derived from them
On the other hand, labor papers, run by
BONA 1lde labor editors and for active
organized laborcrs, give the heart of the
industry and the industrial world, and,
hence, have the effect of actuality.
The labor paper is unique in being the
only class paper published which yitallv
interests only one class of people. and the
daily paper has no place within it's ranks,
Tor those things that interest only one
class of people are pretty apt to bare
the rest; especially always those features
occurring only in the laboripg man s king
dom which have u decided news feature
clement and neither side should then be
neglected.