Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-06-17
LINDBERGH ON THE EDITOR.

uuaDl0 10 aCCenU CQ0 oO1COTS OuClu& III
Walker. held recently, on request Of
Editor Wells, president of the associa-
tion, wrote under date OF May %, as
follows: 49,. - ....
You suggest that, in case I could
not attend, should write letter to
be read at the banquet. I somewhat
shy at this tor two reasons: first, /
know there will be very goods 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. prefer to
keep close to shore while the banquet
is on, but might suggest one of my
observations on the editor.
HE is a man the same az other
men. But he is within certain
Limitations, 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
forgotten in the things that some one
thinks ugly. The good things he
writes about others are always taken
as facts by those OF whom they are
said, but they, contrary to the fellow
who feels llbeled, forget to show their
appreciation to the editor.
Then, again, the editor is made to
feel his RESPONSE bllity. He knows
that, by making his paper sound and
truthful, it will WELD influence and
he an educational force. That appeals
to his higher self. and 1t 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 ana
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 -sensa-
tions to work up a better subscrlp-
tion, thereby adding to the value of
advertising. He has. an example IN
Hearst's financial success. How far
will he 60? 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
Justified by that, SO the spicy and
borderland sensations. are eagerly
surveyed, and with more or less
discretion injected into the press.
NO, letters of COMMUNICATION
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 un-
derstands his responsibility for teach
ing high morals. He knows, too, that
he must live and he knows that his
is not a well paid profession. Yes,
he is under limitations in more ways
than less.
II do not wonder that an
occasional editor, under occasional
conditions, amid his common circum-
stances, may permit his pen to
wriggle outside his natural limita-
tlons. But to be serious, if it may
be at a banquet, the editor Is the
greatest factor in adult life, in mould.
ing opinion. He must, however, be q
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 advancing tendencies ana cautious
~ bending them through apt
editorials. He cannot work the pubic
with his prejudice nor with his anger,
if he has any. but his reason we'll
stated may and does move the world"