St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-09-04
THE COUNTRY PAPER AND THE
...-. CITY DAILY.

With the rapid growth of means of COM
mu!nlcatlon between country towns and the
cities, the improvement III roads and the
distribution of mail matter in rural districts,
the time is approaching when the farmer
will look upon his daily paper as necessity.
He will want to know what is going on IN
the world that he may keep pace with the
times He cannot be kept informed by his
home paper, either daily or weekly, because
the Associated Press is beyond the means of
either, even if lack of space did not prohibit
it. There is, then, no opportunity for the
country paper to compete with the city daily
in general information of what is going on
in the world, while the daily can invade the
local field of the country paper. The value
of the local paper must rest not only IN It's
usefulness as gatherer of home news, but
in the discussion of subjects of interest to
home people.
In districts where local news is well COW
cred by correspondents, the city daily, with
its Sunday edition of society news, leaves to
the country paper very little OF interest to
subscribers who also take the daily, beyond
individualism and official matters, if it be so
fortunate as to be the official organ. By in
dividualism is meant the exercise OF it's
power to awaken interest in the things that
are of particular moment only to the people
within it's province; the use of it's editorial
columns for the advancement OF home in
terests and the uplift of it's people.
The semi-weekly edition of the city daily
is more largely distributed amongst the ru-
ralists at present than is the daily, but with
the increasing prosperity of the farmer and
his better educational facilities, the time is
approaching when some one of the city
dailies will be found on the table of nearly
every rural home. We do not deprecate the
approach of this time. We would gladly
welcome it, not only for it's educational value
to the people, but because it's effect upon the
character of the country newspaper will
be the evolution of something far superior
to that which we have to-day with accom-
panying responsibility and influence. It will
become an indispensable factor in the devel-
opment of home interests, and will win rec
IGNITION for it usefulness or pass out of
existence.
A decision as to the duty or policy of a
country newspaper is not one OF the easy
features of it's management to which can be
applied the adage, BE sure you're right,
then go ahead, because you cannot always
be sure you are right.
The question of right or wrong is often
interviewer with ethical distinctions, colored
by mere opinion or offset by injury to bust
ness interests. That which appears in the
abstract to be right, or which by it's moral
bearing appeals to the sense for support,
may be productive of both moral and phys
ical or material injury greater than is pro-
duced by the condition intended to be re-
lieyed. Questions of this nature will arise,
where a support of either side will bring
condemnation from good citizens who do not
agree with YOU But an independent up
holding of that which is right according to
the dictates of conscience is the best solu-
ton of such problems.
The publication of news matter also offers
difficulties. We believe the interest of the
community as whole should be considered,
and that it is better sometimes to suppress
news that only panders to morbid curiosity,
where it's effects would be hurtful. The
Tines Democrat, one of the cleanest and best
edited papers in the South, in discussing
this subject, says:
Every newspaper has in this connection
a double duty to perform. It must consult
the tastes of it's constituents, and it must
Guide those tastes Alright as far as it can
we are speaking, of course, only of reputa-
bic papers. not Of those yellow journals,
who must publish anything, however vile,
and whether true or false, which they think
will sell the paper.
The paper that is able and honest, and
fearless in expressing its opinion, may make
some enemies, but it will win influence and
respect in it's community,
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT.
r