Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-09-06
OUR ANNIVERSARY.

tinsburg For tWenty-One years III mas
continued to circulate in the homes Of
the people of Martinsburg and Ber-
kelley county Today its hope Is to
continue to make its daily visit to
these homes for many years to come.
Through all these years this paper
has continued to grow and thrive and
today. when it has attained to major
ity, il takes rank with the leading
newspapers OF the State 1t has always
appeared much Older than its years
would indicate, for it has been more
progressive aud has kept ahead OF the
times more than many OF the papers
that are much older in years.
The World has recorded many
changes in the material improvement
of the city. 1t has told of the depart
ure of those who for long years la
bored for the upbuildlng and advance
ment of the community in which they
lived. It has chronicled the advent of
/ the youngsters who today are young
! business men and have become identi-
fed with the present-day prosperity
of the community. II has told Of the
union of those whose offsprings are
the youth of today and to whom we
look for the future of the city.
The growth of The World and what
1t has done to further the interests of
the community is too well known to
/ the readers of today TO set forth here.
/ improvements have constantly been
/ IL, 3,, {t- NJ N n
give to the people all that is of the best
and latest in the way of the news OF
the day. From the setting of the type by
hand and the printing of the paper on
a cylinder press the progress has been
marked by a change to machine COM
position First a simple typesetting
machine which later gave way to a
type casting Linotype machine and in
its twenty-first year it added another
Linotype of the latest design and all
the type for the news of the paper is
set on these two machines The cylin-
der press has given way to the latest
and most improved Goss flatbed per-
fecting press and the equipment today
is the equal in quality of any paper
in a town of the size of Martinsburg
anywhere and is superior to that in
most towns much larger.
The paper was started by Mr.. F. Yer
non Aler, who is still resident of the
county. Later it was taken over by
Mr. James F. Thompson and seven
teen and q half years ago w. +. Hoff-
helms & Co. became the owners, The
World at present is owned by The
World Publishing Company which was
organized last spring in order that the
paper might be brought to a higher
standard and better serve the commuu
ity in which it has circulated for these
many years.
The World has no oppology to make
for anything that it has accomplished
in the past 1t has always stood for
what it thought was right and has
made earnest effort to reflect the senti-
ment of the community in the progress
and development of a growing city. 1t
has seen Martinsburg more than dou-
Bile its population and increase its ter
ritory and it takes much credit for
telling to the world at large the great
advantages of this section which has
caused a steady influx of people who
now help make this one of the best
cities in the State
The future looks bright and The
World will continue to use its intlu-
ence for the upbullding OF the COM
muuuy and the betterment OF the gen
eral conditions of the city and coun-
~.
Since The World is now old enough
10 vote, it will take an active part in
the political campaign which is now
waging and while It will espouse the
cause OF the Democratic party, it will
not relax in it's vigil to give all that is
of interest in the way of news, either
of a local or foreign character. 1t be
iieves in the doctrines set fourth by
Woodrow Wilson and will make every
effort to extend them and bring about
the election of the Democratic stand
ard bearer and his followers on the
Democratic ticket throughout the
State and county.
Following the first year of the pub
LEGATION of The World Grover Cleye-
land, the Democratic nominee, was
elected to the presidency and The
World is confident that following the
celebration of its twenty-frst anniyer-
sary it will see another Democratic
president in the person of Woodrow
Wilson,
During these years The World has
made many staunch friends. They
have been loyal TO the paper and their
good words and encouragement have
been highly appreciated New friends
are constantly being made and added
to the long list of supporters of The
World and to these. one and all we
wish al this time to extend our hearty
appreciation.
The World has never been a paper
to make promises. 1t has been a pa