Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-02
at,iseellaneous Rsaaine.
THE BANNERS WRESTLE
:: WITH TRUTH. ::
The Knobby Experiences Of an Editor
With a Conscience and Spinal
Column.
(By William H. Hamby).

(By William H. Hamby).
Clelland Burch's friends advised him
not to buy the paper Since his bird
nest and swimming hole days 1t had
been a habit with him to tell the truth
regardless of what it cost his back.
This trait in the newspaper business,
his friends said, would prove disas-
trous, possibly fatal. All their lives
they had been reading the comic
papers about what happened to country
editors, that tried to tell the truth.
But Clelland only laughed at their
prophecies, bought the paper, and pro-
ceeded to establish his policy in the
office.
Sandy" he said to the foreman,
80 long as am editor and manager"
how good that sounded at twenty
two!-"it shall be the policy Of the
Banner to tell the truth"
Sandy ran his inky fingers through
his wiry hair, shifted uneasily to
the other foot and spat at the coal
scuttle.
| Now, don't misunderstood me-"
continued the young editor. ITO tell
the truth does not mean that we must
make fools Of ourselves and a rui-
sance Of the paper. Lots of folks think
that tc be truthful is to be disagree
able and officious, always saying un-
pleasant things. Nonsense! Being
truthful does not any more license a
man to be a meddler than being
honest licenses him to blow up rascals
with dynamite. I simply mean this:
We will print whatever we ought to
print, and tell the truth about it; we
will not print anything but the truth;
and we won't dodge or suppress or
color or exaggerate anything. Neither
fear nor favor, partiality nor spite. will
influence u.s."
Sandy shook his head sadly. To him
the world was mostly a vain show;
and he was convinced that David in
his haste uttered a permanent truth.
His opinion Of tho new policy was
briefly expressed
TRY it and you'll get your head
punched"
But he tried 1t for two weeks and
did not; neither did he get much Of
anything else. When word goes out
that a paper Is going to tell the truth,
some of the people laugh, some swear
and all wait.
But he had met Miss Irma Martin;
and, even If the paper should fail, that
compensated for coming to Well City.
She made all things worth while.
Wholesome, frank, and sincere her
self, she liked the new paper at once
and its editor. She inspired truthful
ness. And even when later his lum-
inous dream setnt Clelland out under
the blooming apple trees, to talk
poetry to the stars. he stuck to the
truth. And yet in the end 1t was she
who caused the Banner" to have its
hardest wrestle with the truth.
The people soon began to like the
policy of the paper. They learned
|
full at the same time; be sincere and
not be a prig, frank and yet sympa
thetic.
1T is the best paper the town ever
had" Miss Irma said one April even
ing while she and Clelland sat on the
Martin porch. Now, whenever a
rumor starts, some one is sure to say:
| Where is the 'Banner?' 1t will give the
straight of it,"
II am glad they like it-glad you
like it." His heart surged with the
| JOY of success, success won without
the barter of principle.
But success was not won-not yet.
1t was not to be all smooth flying; it
never is in this blowy world.
The very next Friday old Pap Col
lins hobbled into the office. ordered
his paper stopped, and gave the editor
senile blessing because he did not
print a story about his being a hum
dred and ten years old and a veteran
of three wars.
Tubbs quit the paper because the
load of calves he shipped was not "the
finest bunch that ever went out Of
Well City"
The Ancient Order Of Bilks (six
months old) passed resolutions de-
nouncing him as an enemy Of the
town because he informed his readers
that the lodge was being investigated
| by the state insurance department.
But he and Miss Irma only laughed
over his little discouragem like
these. She was such a comfort in time
of vexation and trouble.
You will lose some subscribers, Of
| course" she said. But there will be
others to take their place. To some"
she laughed-"truth is like olives;
| they have to learn to like it. But you
will win; am sure Of that"
The paper did win new friends. Even
Sandy, when ne saw the editor did not
make his habit Of truthfulness an ex-
cuse for printing scandal and abuse.
was won over. He even confessed to
himself that David might have been
little hasty.
But in August came real trouble. A
weak, drunken fellow was arrested for
keeping a gambling-room. The editor
discovered that there was really a
gambling club with some Of the lead
ing men in town as members. The
keeper was merely a hired scapegoat;
they paid his fines.
The Banner printed the facts
and the names.
1t put the club out of business-and
nearly did the same for the Banner"
And, if tenth of the threats of bod
| lily violence had been carried out, they
would have put Clelland in the
hospital. But none of them were. in
spite of Sandy's frequently urging the
belligerent ones to come on down
to the office and try it," always add
ing as a final inducement, He never
run in his life, and amt even been lick
ed yet"
Tho papar's husineec dwindled very