The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-01-16

would bring sorrow and suffering
to worthy and innocent persons,
silence is better than speech.
The rule that should govern
in the treatment Of the news and
general departments Of the paper
apply with equal force in what is
more narrowly known as the edi-
torlal department, or that depart
ment of the paper devoted ito
comment by the editor. The same
idea OF the exchange service for
the supply Of the needs of life
should prevail. But it must be
remembered that the service Of
the editor in this department Of
his paper is Of peculiar nature.
The advertising columns of the
paper belong, in a sense, to the
advertiser. He pays for the space
and the announcements which he
makes are his. The news columns
are properly devoted to q recital
of facts Of current interest. The
editorial column represents a
special service, the pregentation
TO his readers BY the editor o. his
own Interpretation Of the subjects
which he discusses. The sale OF
opinion, the perversion Of facts,
the use Of the editorial column
to support unworthy men in ex-
change for money or place, all
these are rs inexcusable, as abom
Unable, az Is the prostitution of
any other good to an unworthy
purpose.
Among the requirements of
the tditor:1i department, there
fore, l should place: A profound
and abiding respect on the part
OF the editor for his calling: q
recognition of the fact that the
newspaper business is CONNER
cial, in the highest and best sense
Of that term; the desire and the
ability to render unto the public
the service to which the public is
entitled, first, in the publication
OF news fairly and accurately,
and second in the absolute anu
inflexible honesty Of every ex-
preston of opinion offered.
II wish to add one further
, comment. I am aware that I am
addressing gathering composed
largely Of publishers of weekly
newspapers issued in many cases
in the smaller towns of the state.
/ Occasionally we run across the
.'.opinion that the day Of the coun-
try newspaper is about over; that
the extension or rural delivery
and q number of other changes
have made the daily newspaper
I, 80 easy to obtain that it is GER
tain to drive the weekly out of
/, existence, as the small weekly
cannot hope to compete with the
great daily and its elaborate equip
ment and greater variety Of mat
ter. II the country newspaper
seeks to compete with the city
daily in the rapid treatment Of
the news Of the. day, tits bound to
/! fail. It is not and cannot. be
equipped for such Q fight. But
no such competition is necessary.
The country weekly has q field all
its own which oan be served by
no other agency. Recently !
learned Of the retirement OF an
old friend from the paDtorato Of
q village church which lias had
served continuously for thirty
six years. There have been many
men more scholarly, many more
eloquent. Possibly his theologi-
cal opinions may have been q lit
tie antiquated. But for over Q
third Of q century that man had
been, the friend and companion
LOT the people of his parish. He
had christened their children and
married their young men land
ImaidenS, and buried their dead.
He had rejoiced with them in their
prosperity, and comforted them
in their sorrows. He had cccu-
pied D place In their life which
the orator and the scholar and
the. theologian could not p0ssi-
BY have oiled. And the place
which that man occupied IN his
county parish 70 Sanalae0ue 10
the place which. the country news
Fpaper may OCCUPY In the lives Of
the people OF Its own field. It
has q thousand things Of local
interest to discuss which tho daily
newspaper cannot touch. Il ID
surrounded by problems of local
importance which mean nothing
to the city paper. And IL has the
opportunity TO cultivate the close
personal relations which mean 40
much, and in the absence Of which
thea daily newspaper can nsvers