Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1913-04-10
Country Editing
ABOUT COL. bob" WHITE, OF MEXICO.

Under the above meaning, tne
Kansas City Star printed a sketch
and cut of the Senior Editor of the
Ledger; also sample of his handwrit-
ing; and member Of the editorial
staff, who visited Mexico, published
the following in the Star:
IF you should happen to be on
the streets Of Mexico. Mo-, almost
any morning early-and early means
$3.50 o'clock-you might see hurrying
down the street a large, gray
haired man. wearing a broad-brim-
med black felt hat. a dark suit and
narrow black string tea sort of
Kentucky colonel in appearance, but
in more of a hurry than any Ken
lucky colonel anybody ever heard Of.
You probably would make the mis-
take of supposing the big man was
hurrying for train, but any resi-
dent of the town could tell you that
there was nothing unusual about the
performance; that the figure in flut-
tering coat tails was only Col. Bob"
White, editor Of the Mexico Led
ger, on the way to work. Colonel
White has been editing the same pa
per in Mexico for thirty-six years,
and nobody has ever seen him yet
when he wasn't in a tearing hurry.
The colonel came to Mexico in
1876. boy of 21 Just out of college,
and bought the Ledger, then very
modest weekly paper in a town OF
three thousand A good town
young White thought, but capable ol
being a much better one. And he
set to work with the Ledger tC
help the town. He was always
boosting" something new. Some
times he had fight on his hands
always for the advancement
and the uplift Of the community
and most of his fights have beei
successful in the long run-though
sometimes it has been very lont
run. Sitting in his office the othe
day, Colonel White told something o
his experiences and of his ideals,
"a Lot Of Fun"
Ever think about breaking int
the country newspaper gamer h
asked incisively, and went on: at
great game, Not much money /
It, and a lot of work, but lot O
fun, too. wouldn't do anythin
else IL could.
Flights? Oh, yes. a few. But no
many, and only when It is necei
sary. I'm peace-loving man, 20
know" and the colonels eyes twinl
l. led.
you've been something OF r
= former, haven't you?" the visitor
ventured.
"Reformer? No, sir, I'm no r
= former. I'm for the things thu
. will help this town. and for tf
right things, | hope, but don't clai
me with the reformers,"
u Then, remembering something
e somebody he wanted to see outsld
he jumped up rushed around Il
- end of the little railing that fenc'
. his desk, and was ont the fro
u door before the visitor had NOV
e his chair to make room for Il
~ exit. A moment later the colone
~ black hated head was thrust
u the door again.
III Remember" he said, I'm no !
II former.
The movements of the man a
ie dynamic, almost volcanic. More tn
" once he has dictated an editorial
his stenographer between the til
y he entered the front door and
"a time he reached his desk.
VI The colonel had just won a fig
ne the day the writer arrived. 1t "
fight against an organization viii
'e called itself the Mexico Athle
ne Association, and whose chief busin
pe was the training and exhibition
negro prize-fighters. The Led
Vi made a fight against the club q
CO. the Audrain County Court finally
i'' 1t out of business.
ioi Incidentally the Ledger-or
III colonel-the terms are almost I'M
'he changeable-- has won many fights
the growth of his town and county
Carnegie library was offered
w. town. There was certain amo
necessary for maintenance, and
number of men of prominence "
opposed to approprlating it. The l
ger took the position that 1t We
be a disgrace to the town IL 1t ia
'on to get the library. 1t kept hamr
'Ds ing away; gradually more and n
people came to take a live inte
:" in the library and the fight was v
wv Audrain County is just begin
~ to get the good roads fever. And
io' too, is due in large part to Col,
:" White. He advocated the a
the - a.. 40 ,,,a ro,a d,.+r,c,
WAS
was provision whereby rock roads ma
la'e built in a zone extending four I
liam ooah r,a, sror, Mex;oo without
eah' issuance of bonds. There was {
Of opposition to that plan, too,
first. before it was definitely III
two stood just what it provided; tC
rado road commission Is
cial- ing its best to get good re
md under it. The first mile of rock
and Is being built; all culverts are
$40 being built of concrete. A plan
lock been perfected by which, after
reak- heavy rain, all the roads in the
un- trict may be dragged in an h
lrted The Paper That Stole News.
a In thirty-six years of news
four work Colonel White has had a
ouis, interesting experiences. He is
rear tie reticent about telling you OF
over So
o Ia PYTHIANS NAME OFFICER
lroad ,,,.,,. NJ A.,, ~