Mexico Missouri message., 1911-06-22
HOW 1T STARTED.
The Movement For a Railroad
From Mexico to Santa Fe.

month later the Message was start
ed at Mexico. A few months lat.
cr still the Message bought the
Santa Fee preachers subscription
list and the preacher quit the pa
per business.
But the little paper at Santa Fe
started something going. After
he quit the agitation the Message
took it up, and we have never let
up talking for the project the
preacher proposed to this day.
But people laughed. They said
it couldn't be.
1t was six months after the Mes
sage took up the agitation before
any other Audrain county paper
got into the band wagon with us.
But the Message kept agitating
"BehOld, how great a matter a
little fire kindleth.
The organization of the Mexico.
Santa Fe & Perry Traction Co.
was the outcome, and what the
further outcome will be only the
coming years can tell.
Jack Blanton, of the Paris Ap-
peal, talking before the Missouri
Editorial Association, at Joplin.
last week, on the influence of the
country newspaper made refer
ence to the little agitation com
menced at Santa Fe ten years ago
as follows:
"The man who gets blood from
a turnip is not to be mentioned the
same day with these editors. lie
can get the blood without the tur-
nip, and when he goes after an en-
terpriSe it might as well take the
bit and submit gracefully, for
there is no escape if he stays on
the job. Up in our country sever
al years ago Methodist preacher
found time hanging so heavy on
his hands in an inland town that
he started newspaper by way of
diversion. About the third week
he began agitating for a railroad
He wanted one so bad he could
taste it and gave it out cold that he
would never let up until the jan
gle of trolley gong was heard in
his midst. | think most of my
surplus flesh was acquired from
joining in the chorus Of
laughter the rest of the
county enjoyed at that poor
old preachers expense. But, say
somehow or other copy of his
paper found its way into the of
flee Of a promoter. Three months
later the editor and promoter were
the main guys at great railroad
picnic. People bought bonds un-
til they were black in the face.
and, world you believe it, more
than half the line is now in opera
tion and the balance is under con.
tract. The old preacher is gone,
likewise all the money he put into
that pap, but his work lives on.
The founder of local paper.
who has neither honor nor world.
ly emOluments in his own genera
tion, will eventually be exalted
above the miserly capitalist who
gave him no sympathy; above the
rich merchant who refused to pay
living prices for space he used ;
when he could no longer use him
above the SnObs whose snubs were
a thorn in the flesh; above all the
Others, in fact, who were his con
temporaries during that trying but
eventful period.
For these reasons and others
that might be mentioned, gentle
men of the jury, the man who
starts country paper on its ever
lasting mission of harmonizing hui
man factions, directing human EN-.
ergies into helpful channels, exalt-
ing the good and discOuraging the
evil IN his community is an immOr-
al, for he has set in motion an in
iuence that will gather strength
with the years and has given to
his people an institution that will
chronicle their joys and sorrows,
promote their prosperity and safe
guard their rights until time shall
he no more.
Little Gustus JordOn of Louis
lana has been visiting Mr.. and