The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-07
MAINLY Personal

III A%7x4tA &ANOV4v\7A III
What ought to be done is for some
one to take shotgun and use it on
the person who would print such stuff
as that"
This is not quotation from the diary
OF murderous bandit or outlaw. 1t
was spoken by church member and
one OF the Wealthiest men in Topeka
a day or two ago. This gentleman is
not known as a bloodthirSty indiVid-
ual but has the reputation of being
peaceable law abiding citizen who has
become rich by attending to his own
puslness-and other peoples. He was
not angry at the newspaper because he
had been greatly wronged or had been
misrepresented by a reporter. He was
Vexed because the paper had printed
a current news story of a semi official
character in which an effort was made
TO give both sides of the controversy.
He objected to the publication of the
story at all, not because it was not
news but because he considered it as a
personal reflection upon several worthy
individuals.
This question of what a newspaper
should print has been a mooted one
ever since newspapers were published
News is not printed because it reflects
upon certain. person and neither is
1t printed to crafty certain indlV1d-
uals. The standard fixed by a success
full editor is based upon what the peo-
pie are entitled to know-not whether
1t will please or offend any one. Ac-
cording to the standards fixed by many
people the wrong consists not in the
offenSe against the tenets of society
or the laws of the land but in the pub
LEGATION of the facts connected with the
offense. A banker might feel perfect
ly safe in robbing his depositors if his
populations could be kept a secret. "A
MT Ta1Th Iio OfT7 f,1 TnG as c
on his pillow and enjoy the fruits of
his grating in calm security were it
not for the fact that the newspapers
would give the public the facts Even
a murderer or a highwayman cares less
about the crime he has committed than
he does for being found out and held
up to the people in his true light.
Therefore it follows that a newspaper
Will make enemies. 1t sometimes makes
powerful ones and often its duty to
the public is not a pleasant one. How
ever so long as it fulfills it's mission it
must go on in the same old way giving
the people what they pay for-the news.
If newspaper would advise willful
murder as this rich man has done even
that man himself would rise up in his
might and condemn such pernicious
doctrine. The law of the bludgeon, six
shooter and shoutgun was repealed by
the little red school house and the
churches. The people do not want to
see it return, neither does that gentle
man himself.
In the meantime the newspapers will
continue to print the news.
Billy Brown has entered Washburn.
That doesn't sound like an important
announcement, does it? Well, perhaps
it isn't. Billy Brown is just a boy-an
American boy who long ago set out to
get an education. He hasn't had an
easy time in his young life-perhaps it
is Just as we'll that he hasn't but he
hasn't yet lived all his life-he is only
we'll started. This particular Billy
Brown lives in Lowman Hill, west
ern suburb of Topeka, with his widow
ed mother. The family has no income
except from the efforts of the boy and
his mother. Several years ago when
Billy was in the grade schools and was
known as the best baseball player on
the school nine his father, who was a
carpenter, was killed by being run over
by trolley car. It left the family
without support and il became neces-
sary for the boy to Work. He quit
school for q time to Help his mother
and devoted his attention toshdd jobs
and every morning and evening ne
sold newspapers. There never was an
other newsboy in Topeka like Billy
Brown and 1t was just because he car
ried energy and enthusiasm into his
work. People would wait on the streets
Tor the boy VINO called MS papers" In
a plain decisive manner. He never
loitered but ran lightly up and down
the street until his papers were dis
posed of. He hasn't forgotten the les
son of success he learned then. The
other day when an important news
event transpired he came to the State
Journal office, bought a bundle of pa
pers and in an hour sold $11 worth
An education was the thing Billy
Brown most desired and he completed
the course in the grade scool as soon as
he could and entered high school He
bad to work to support himself and his
mother and it was no easy task 20
complete his high school course. He
finally got a job to work afternoons as
bundle boy in a Kansas avenue store
and soon was promoted to clerkship.
This position he still holds. He will
complete the course in Washburn In
time and then he will embark on AZ
career of one sort or another. Have
you any doubt of the success of Billy
Brown? He furnished the answer him
self when he became an orphan and
was thrown upon his own resources.
Whether he sells papers, runs a bank
or fills a public office the public may
be assured that he will do his work
we'll.