Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-05-04


sistance given them by this powerful
agent. No matter what line of work,
musical. benevolent, civil
or social its kindly mention by the
press has encouraged other club wom-
en- to further effort, new societies or
ganized, so the work grows until we
have absolutely no way of estimating
the numbers who are engaged in con-
certed-and directed effort by this one
force which has also given new inn
petus to the organized orders and
awakened other women to their du-
ties and privileges as workers in this
busy age where all must toll, for
drones are now unknown.
So as club woman it is with pleas
ure l offer my humble tribute to the
press, the most potent factor in the
world of today in shaping the affairs
of men, fearless in uncoyering evil
and graft, tireless in its efforts to de-
velop the higher attributes that make
life better and brighter.
When we read the dispatches of the
Associated Press which tell us clear
ly and concisely of current events,
and then turn to the editorial page,
where we find wonderful expositions
of matters worth while to know we'll,
often we find there prose-poems, or
Thoughts so lofty we feel future gen
erations must find them still living,
vital force. What would we know of
Hull House and its magnificent work
had not the press recognized in Jane
is? What would we know of the
miracles that moved from Helen Kel-
ler's lips the seal of silence without
the press? And what would we have
known of Ashland's mineral springs
had it not been for Mr.. Bert Greer
and the press? What of the deeds of
heroism that still happen here?
Think of the educators, the clergy,
the doctors who get their companion
ship and courage through the coun-
try newspaper. Think of the country
doctor who, following the work of
those wonderful wizards of surgery,
Drs. Charles and William Mayo,
bring back health to your child or
mine. Best of all, this help goes into
isolated places where it is most need
ed, where man rarely penetrates.
There it comforts, entertains and in
spires.
When we pause to consider the
rapid strides which the press has
made sinch our first newspaper in
1880, and the only books at that time
were few and mostly sermons, and
the rapidity with which books, maga-
zines, pamphlets and papers are being
turned out daily on all topics for our
| benefit, there should be no excuse
| for anyone being uniformed. What
once took days, months and some.
times years to accomplish is nov
brought to public notice in short or
der through the press. The student
of today does not have to wait for 6
book to be published on any one de.
sired subject; they find it in con
cisive articles in the monthly maga
zine and sometimes in the moderI
newspaper.
| There is so much that is good ant
helpful and progressive in the better
newspapers, and they are so sound or
the larger questions of national pol
icy that it is to be hoped that the mex
important movement in this countr!
will be for a greater sense of re
sponsibility to wholesome public
opinion on the part of the press ant
that the grosser faults of journalism
will be eliminated. Could not this bt
easily accomplished if the people o
a community would stand by thei
editor, helping him to keep the home
paper up to an ideal. standpoint b!
handing him wholesome, helpful ma
terial? This is our privilege and oul
duty.
|