The Glenwood post., 1911-05-27
A. J. DICKSON, tditss saA Proprietor
Saturday. May 81. 1911.
THE MISSION OF THE PRESS

More and more are the people of this
country coming to realize, not only the
mission but the power of the press.
More and more are the people admit
ting the value of the press in shaping
the events of community or state
and bringing about the conditions that
make or unmake community. 1t is
now almost an axiom that the man or
association of men or the community at
large which fails to recognize and ap-
preciate the power of the press does
so at its peril. There are many hun
dreds of people in Colorado who dislike
Senator Patterson and his paper, the
Rocky Mountain News, and yet where
is there a man who will deny that but
for the severe structures and the vigor-
Gus opposition against Mayor r. w.
Speer the latter would long ago have
been elected United States Senator,
Surely there is power in the press.
While newspaper is largely a pub
lie institution as it is public necessity
it nevertheless reflects, to great de-
gree, the personality of its editor and
in this connection it may not be amlss
to ask what is the duty of the editor
to the community and to the world at
large. Perhaps the highest duty of the
editor is to battle with wrong. Te al
vocate those things which make for the
pest in manhood, to encourage and as
sist every good movement and. per
CONTRA criticise, discourage and oppose
with all his might that which IS wrong,
that which is low and base and those
influences and environments which cater
to the vicious and depraved in human
ty. This applies not to those strictly
moral questions as the world defines
morality, but has to do with honor and
fair dealing whether in a commercial
or political way. The conscientious
editor who has not missed his calling
completely is against sham and deceit
and hypocricy in high and low places
and seeks ever to protect his people
against the wrongs which he believes
are impending.
This, of course, brings him in con-
fict with wrong doers who often do
not hesitate to show their spite in
many ways. An article in a newspaper
against bad character arouses the ire
of the man himself, but also pricks a
Of fria nd
who rush to his support with choice
assortment of anathemas which they
take pleasure in hurling at the edito-
who walks serenely by in the conscious
ness of his right in the matter and usu-
ally oblivious of and Indifferent to the
criticism heaped upon his head by the
enemies of right and Justice.
Not many weeks ago a man came
to this office and said he had decided TO
stop the paper' since we had ruined
his business. He was quickly relieved
of the balance due on past subscription
and his name gladly removed from the
list. 1t may not be amiss to state that
this fellows "business depended up
on the support and patronage of the
worst. most vicious and depraved class
of citizens that ever cursed a commu-
nifty. Since he "stopped the paper
that is stopped the copy heretofore
printed for him, that man often goes
by and looks in, evidently surprised to
find the front door open, the wheels
going round and someone at the desk
to attend to business which was seldom
ever better in this office than it has
been this year.
If the mission of the press is any
thing it is to do right; to stand for that
which is right and just and true; to
work to high ideals; to support the
good. to denounce the wrong; to hew to
the line and let the chips fall where
they may and trust the future as well
as the present to Justify his conduct,
which it surely will do.
No sensible editor expects to please
everybody. Such an editor lays no
claim to infallibility, and may at times
even fall into error But an outspoken,
Independent journal. aiming to support
the right and attack the wrong, is such
a power for good in any community
that we'll balanced minds will look
over little faults in view Of the greater
benefits conferred.
An editor who is afraid to speak out
on public questions for fear Of offend