The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-07-30
THURSDAY. July 80, 1914
Not Like The Picture

Editor in Action" 1t was really a
burlesuue. yet plainly intended TO in
dictate the duties and possibilities OF
the press in overcoming evil. The
editor portrayed was a valiant fellow
carving a shield and wearing other
defensive armor. His weapon OF at
tack was an enormous goose quiz,
pointed as for writing. This he held
aloft like a spear The whole thing
carried out the idea that "The Pen is
Mightier Than the Sword. Fleeing
before him were smaller and less
noble figures, got up to represent cor
poration attorneys, arnichists, profess
sonal politicians and malefactors of
great wealth, which the public justly
or unjustly are prone to associate to-
gether as enemies of society. Group
ed behind the editor hero were more
numerous company throwing up hats,
waving flags and actually dancing ap-
proval. 1t was all very pretty and
interesting, calculated to inspire any
newspaper man, even the most humble,
with exalted notions as to his part in
the worlds affairs.
Somehow the theories of this pic
ture do not work out in real life, The
pen, standing of course for everything
written or printed, is mightier than
bo tho inOnlpnpntG nf
warfare, from the war club to the
battleship, have not counted for as
much as mans thoughts, first record
ed with the pen and always known by
that emblem no matter how inscribed.
But the picture gives no hint OF the
difficulty in knowing what or whom TO
attack, and what measures, policies
or things to promote and defend. The
fellow on the canvas had his work all
cut out for him-all the wrong in one
part of the field and all the right in
the other. Among actual events, how
ever, no such clear separation exists.
Most newspaper men acquire caution
as their years accumulate, from in
stances where the power of the pen,
in their well intentioned hands, but
amidst Transformation and uncertain
ness, has done serious harm, much to
their humiliation and regret. Now
what would you do, reader, in the fol-
lowing case, part of the circum-
stances of which are actual, and illus
trative of situations with which a
newspaper man has often to deal:
A reputable citizen comes in with
the story that Somerset County
town, Skowhegan for example, is be-
ing buncoed out of several hundred
dollars year on contract it has
with a corporation. You question
him and find he has only superficial
information, yet you feel it is more
than likely he is correct To really
understand the extent of the matter
would involve investigation, difficult to
make and possibly only at consider
able sacrifice and expense. Unless
you do investigate, however, you have
plenty Of doubt as to the course you
ought to pursue. Moreover the stock
holders and officials of this corpora
ton are your personal friends, they
cat at your table and you at theirs,
their children and yours study and
play together These men whom your
informant wants called to account are
leaders in business. Their activities
have helped to build up many things
and you look to them for all sorts of
development in the future, They are
broad-minded people Perhaps you
could name one among them whose
donations of a public nature exceed
the amount of delinquency in the cor
poration complained of. The corpor-
alton and its members are liberal pa
irons of the newspaper establishment
which is asked to wade into them,
Unless the wrong complained of is
serious and the facts much clearer
than we have cited in this supposable
case, a publisher is only human who
considers the effect upon his
own business before attacking an evil
which he only presumes to exist Your
informant will risk nothing in this
line. He usually exacts an obliga-
ton of secrecy that his name must not
be brcathed in connection with the