Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-05-26
AS A SORT OF INTRODUCTION.


ary character. Outside of its
news features and its advertis.
ing matter, and above both is the
duty it owes to safeguard the peoples
interests, especially in all local matters
The individual citizen has not the time
TO investigate all the city business af.
fairs, 10 examine into sewer construc-
tion, street paving and the countless
things necessarily done in carrying on
the city's affairs. Hence he relies on
the local papers to keep him informed
on these subjects to point out to him
things liable TO hurt him financially or
otherwise to endorse and recommend
that which is good and to condemn that
which is bad, to give the reflex Of pub.
lie opinion, commencing it if it is cor
rect, and pointing out the bad features,
if any. To do this requires moral back
bone, in wholesale quantities, for it
sometimes requires the taking of a po-
sition inimical to that of majority Of
it's patrons, and to be true to itself and
that high standard without which no
real newspaper can succeed, it must
fight its friends and oftimes oppose
their favorite measures.
The newspaper is not infallible, and
is sometimes wrong, but it will be
found in going through its files, that
in most matters it is eminently
right, and that its mistakes are gener-
ally concerning some minor detail,
while its statements as to the main and
material things are correct.
The Capital journal presents this
statement today for two reasons. One
is- that many thoughtless persons ask,
"Why does The Capital journal butt
into street paving contracts sewer con.
structiOn, the question of water for the
city, etc.i"
The other is that Tho Capital journal
purposes discussing the paving situation
in all lbs phases; intends to call things
by their right names and present tho
subject 80 that we may all Of us at
least have thorough understanding Of
IT, 1t realizes that some Of its readers
will not agree with il, but with due
Difference to their opinions, IL will pre-.
sont the matter as it sees IL, regardless
Of what any may think, for the simple
reason IL feels that it is its duty to do
so; that IL owes il to its big army Of
readers, TO point out the bad elements
in our civic system, and our public
works, that they may have q full un.
derstanding Of the situation. Commenc.
ing today, we will run series Of arti.
cles on street paving on the front page
Of The Capital journal in which we will
undertake to point out some things to
property owners and citizens generally
which we think they should know, and
which wo ask them to read dispassOn.
atcly and digest thoroughly, whether it
fits in with their ideas, or otherwise,
We viii add that, the "Open Forum"
is still on It's job, and those interested
will be given q chance to express their
ideas, only requiring that articles be
kopt down within reasonable limits, and
that personal matters, so far as posi-.
bic be Kept out of thom. The whole
idea is to turn tho light Of full pub.
licity on all city work. The Capital
journal invites, urges the city officials,
and councilmcn especially, to assist Il
in this work. Let us all get together
for tho benefit Of all. Let us have all
city matters given the fullest publicity.
Let us know about our own business,
what our material is costing us, what
Is paid for labor on our contracts. Let
us take hold Of our collective business,
our city affairs, understand them and
manage them with the same acumcn,
the same good, hard common, horse
sense wo use In conducting our own az.
fairs When Wo do this wa will havc