The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-06-09
AN fDITOR'S JOB
How Congressman c. A. Lind
bergh Sizes It Up.
AS STATESMAN SEES 1T
Sixth District Member Writes Letter
That Is Read at Editorial
Banquet At Walker

Hon. G. A. Lindbergh, congressman
from the sixth Minnesota district,
was invited to be the guest of the
North-Central Minnesota Editorial
Association, during their outing at
Walker last week, and was requested
to take his wife along with him. AS
congress is in session and will not adj
journ for some time, Mr.. Lindbergh
found it impossible to accept the
invitation. The president of the
Association thereupon requested him
to write letter to be read at the
banquet Saturday evening, June 5.
Under date of May % Mr.. Lindbergh
replied. After explaining why he
could not be present and rendering
thanks for the invitation, Mr.. Lind
bergh proceeds as follows:
"You suggest that, in case l could
not attend, should write letter to
be read at the banquet. I somewhat
shy at this for two reasons: first, /
know there will be very good things
at the banquet better than letters;
secondly, editors are far-seeing, and
to look or write ahead OF them would
be looking very far, indeed, and might
spoil some good scoops. I prefer to
keep close to shore while the banquet
is on, but might suggest one of my
observations on the editor.
''He is man the same as other
men. But he is within certain limi-
tations, for others can talk and forget
and be forgotten, even in the worst
they say; but the editor writes and
what is more, publishes, and is not
permitted to forget, and is not for
gotten in the things that some one
thinks ugly. The good things he
writes. about others are always taken
as facts by chose of whom they are
said, but they, contrary to the fellow
who feels libeled, forget to show their
appreciation to the editor.
"Then, again, the editor is made to
feel his responsibility. He knows
that, by making his paper sound and
truthful, it will WELD influence and
be an educational force. That appeals
to his higher self, and it is good to
tell his wife, or, if he has none, his
sweetheart; but when he gets back to
his Office in the morning and finds no
letters commencing him, no new
subscribers, he scratches his head and
looks wise at his devil whom he
silently expects he may not pay on
the dot. He says nothing, however,
to this parsonage about that. His
thoughts are finally lodged on SEN
sations to work up a better subscrip-
ton, thereby adding to the value of
advertising. He has an example in
Hearst's financial success. How far
will he go? Not so far as Hearst has
gone, perhaps. But to the end that
his good editorials shall have readers
the means that he uses must be just
flied by that, so the spicy and border
land sensations are eagerly surveyed,
and with more or less discretion
injected into the press.
NO letters of commentator follow,
however, but the subscription list
grows. He sees the power of the
press in that item. He silently con-
templates on human nature. He
understands his responsibility for
teaching high morals. He knows,
too, that he must live and he knows
that his is not we'll paid profession.
Yes, he is under limitations i'm more
ways than less.
81 do not wonder that an occas-
ional editor, under occasional con-
ditions, amid his common circum-
stances, may permit his pen to wriggle
outside his natural limitations. But
to be serious, if it may be at a banquet,
the editor is the greatest factor in
adult life in moulding opinion. He
must, however, be judge of how far
he can lead, for he has no power to
force opinion, or even influence it
except under the keenest intellectual
observation OF human nature. He
speaks through his pen to all, and he
must survey the field of variety to
meet every considerable demand.
His influence has grown with his
capacity, to see in advance the advan-
cling tendencies and cautiously bend
ing them through apt editorials. He
cannot work the public with his pre-
JUDGE nor with his anger, if he has
any, but his reason well stated may
and does move the world.