Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-11-13
POLITICS AND NEWSPAPERS.

Haywood county and especially that OF
the Waynesville Courier,-the county
democratic organ,-towards Congress-
man Gudger, furnishes food for serious
reflection and carries with it interest
OF peculiar significance for those di-
dectly interested in the approaching
congressional campaign. The clip
pings in this issue from the Courier
and the communication of Mr.. Kirk
patrick, presumably a close kinsman
of Congressman Gudger's former sec
rotary, and coming from the county
whence two of his three secretaries
were selected and whence he has al
ways received a gratifying support,
aside from assuring a most inter
esting race for the Tenth District rep
resentative, point Enthusiastically to a
better day for the people of the noun
tain district.
The position taken by these Hay
wood powers clearly indicate the dawn
of a greater independence upon the
part of both press and public. By
lease of the absence of backbone
rigidity On the part of the newspapers,
thus making the spinal column of the
public more flexible and pliable to con-
ditions brought about by professional
politicians and ward healers because
the people naturally looked to the pa
pers for the true light, this country
has been subjected to many things il
should not have tolerated. Party
newspapers, run in many instances by
professional politicians and pie hunt
ers, have been choked and gagged to
the point that they could not properly
express themselves. Even when there
was an Indication of a whimper the
ohceholders and seekers after Offices
scratched the backs of newspaper men
and assured them that silence would
mean great things for them in the flu
ture.
lac newspaper profession is being
blessed with some new blood. Moss
backs and professional politicians in
many instances have been succeeded By
strong, virile, aggressive young men
without political aspirations. They
see something more honrable and i'm
portant to do than polish the faults
of aspiring politicians. The party
whip is losing it's sting. The attitude
toward party leaders is changing; that
day when they were too wise to make
mistakes an dtoo good to be unkind is =
thing of the past. Their gospel does not
have the weight it did when they
secured the districts and shouted
heir virtues from the hultops. AS
the independence of the press ia
.creases, political oratory loses it's i'm
portance and the people look more dill
gently to the newspapers to keep them
Informed as to political affairs in gen.
of newspaper space devoted to politi-
cal articles has constantly increased
for the last few years.
While party papers are important in
their place and have a very important
service to render, they are not SO
biased as was once the case and hence
will render more valuable service to
their readers.
Knowing as we do that the able edi-
tor of the Waynesville Courier has no
personal grievance against Represent
ative Gudger, we are glad to see him
have the courage of his convictions
and call attention to the congress-
though the latter claims that his pres
ence was not needed at the time by
reason of the Legislative program.
There is considerable agitation ~
late about congressman receiving their
daily stipend of $3.50 and 40 and 80
cents mileage for their legislative ser
vices while they are running over their
districts looking after political needs
and practicing their legal professions
hundreds of miles away from the leg
islative halls.
1t will take only a few hot shots like.
those discharged by the Courier to
open the eyes of oficeholders and keep
them nearer to their posts Of duty
Strength to Editor Wilson's arm; may
he ever hold a firm upperlip and re-
tain his backbone rigidity, for such an
altitude will eventually spell more po-
litical efficiency for the Tenth Congress
sional district. 1t will constrain the
chceholders to sit on their jobs AMI
work harder and devote more time and
attention to their official duties in or
der to produce. more tangible results
or they will be succeeded by those
more suitable for the Suties to be dis
charged