University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-02-28

cannot write them; it is a questio.
of value with him. In fact. he say!
that, next to being owner and -edito
OF the Gazette, he would prefer
place as editorial writer on dali,
paper. But. whenever he does pub
lish an editorial, it is a good one. Ii
the editorials that appear, none o
them ever say, THE editor Of the Ga
zette thinks7-the uazette does its
own thinking, not even does We
ever think. II it is necessary fol-
anybody else to do the thinking fol
the Gazette-it happened but one time
in ten years-"P' does the thinking
with "Ovid Bell' signed at the bot
tom.
mo newspaper should be one-man
affair. a personal organ" said Mr.
Bell-"that is thing of the past. As
for the Gazette. it must stand on its
own merits-it must always be 'tha
Gazette and not Ovid Bells paper.
Mechanically, hold the Gazette to.
gether, but want it to do more than
reflect my own individuality"
Following the plan that there shall
be as little foreign matter in the Ga.
zette as possible. practically all of the
advertising accepted comes out Of
Galloway county. Liquor advertising
is barred, and few patent medicine
notices get in; in fact, it is the opinion
of Mr.. Bell that no paper has a moral
right to run any advertising that
could not be read and discussed with
propriety in the family circle. Ad-
vertising must pass this censorship
before it is published in the Gazette.
Like most publishers of weekly pa
pers, Mr.. Bell conducts a job-printing
business in connection with the Ga
zette. With his well-equipped plant,
he is prepared to do all kinds of ordi-
nary work. He makes a specially of
printing booklets and catalogues and
ofiicial reports. His working force is
of fifteen men.
Running country weekly publish
ing plant may be made a profitable
business said Mr.. Bell. I'VE will
always have the weekly newspaper,
and. gradually, it is coming out of the
groove it has followed so long. As
it is closer to the people
about it than anything else, and, if for
no other reason, that fact will keep
t alive.
The weekly paper is finding its
,wn by coming under the leadership
,f trained newspaper men-men who
nave knowledge of, not only the me-
,hanical side of the business, but of
he professional side as well. 1t s.
impossible to run country weekly |
IN the same plan that governs the |
'ity daily, but there are many ideas
md policies. that can be made applica-
lie to both fields" |
1t is his knowledge of the mechani.
al feature and his journalistic train
ng in city and country that enables
ar. Bell to manage successfully a
model country weekly. Born in Gala
'ay county. he was educated at West
ninster College and in a printing
ffice. He left the printing office to
erve as secretary to Silver Dick"
'land. former congressman from Mis-
ouri. After Mr.. Bland's death, Mr..
'ell worked on the Washington star
( the Philadelphia North American.
lie came back to Fulton ten years
go and bought the Gazette.
"Yes. / have made some money"
e said. Il had to have it for the
azette. / try to look on money as
means and not an end. 1t is my
esire to make the Gazette the best
aper possible; and l must have some
loney with which to work." Il
Mr.. Bell believes in the Gazette As
is today, and he believes in it's flu.
ire.
1T is my ambition to stay with the
azette half a century," Mr.. Bell said,
sing. Il began at %. and / hone
stay here forty more"
His more than six-foot body stood I
raight, his arms folded. His eyes
'ightened and he smiled. Empha.i-
lily came:
mo, sir; the Gazette is not for
ne. J. c. H.