Mountain advocate., 1914-04-10


tent that this relates to the morals OF
the community at large.
Naturally, in calculating the degree
OF influence which the country editor
may properly exercise In promoting
the growth and development OF these
objects, one must at the outset weigh
the personality Of the editor. II IL
often said that a newspaper is neither
better nor worse than the community
which supports Il. II country editor
IL not somewhat better, ia all re-
spects, than the average man in his
community, he will be little more than
a puryeyor of news. II he has no part
In the religious life Of his town, he
can not hope 10 widen the influence
Of the church. If he is VIGOROUSLY dis
sipated he can not be force in eleyat-
ing the standard OF morals.
The country editor can not be per-
| feet, no more than men In any other
walk of life can attain perfection, but
| just to the extent that he is unwilling
| to strive for the highest possible
degree of good citizenship himself will
| he lessen his personal influence with
| his readers and render his newspaper
harmful rather than helpful. Out OF
| the fullness of the heart the mouth
| speaketh," and you can no longer de-
| ceive all of the people even a part OK
the time The first essential, there
fore, In the plan of the country editor
4 .nI- tn,
building Of his community is personal
fitness.
The next step toward the upbuild-
ing of the rural community, so far as
the country editor is concerned, IS or
ganified, or systematic and persistent
publicity. The weakness of nearly ev-
cry attempt by the average country
newspaper to effect a reform IN its
community, to promote some local en-
terprise which ought in the very ma
ture of things to succeed, OF TO defeat
| some vicious movement fostered by
dishonest and selfish men, arises
through the failure of the paper TO
keep everlastingly at It.
Newspapers have been known 20
practically revolutionize certain de-
partments of community life. Take
the case of the western country editor
! who led to the practice of what is
known "as dry farming" in his state.
This editor, located in a section where
land was worth from $500 to $500 per
acre for grazing, became convinced.
after some research, that il could be
made worth from $40 TO SIS per
acre for farming. He began 20 edu.
cate the landowners in his territory
about dry farming" and after some
years of stubborn and dOGged per
sistence he succeeded in convincing
them and the farmers of the entire
state, In fact. of the wisdom Of his
/. theory. Naturally he was rewarded
with a full share OF the prosperity
which came to his readers through
the greatly increased earning capacity
of the land. and for which he more
than any other person was respons!
BILE.
Another instance was the extraordi
nary success of the now famous
Moonlight Schools" by means o.
/ which Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart sue
ceeded in driving illiteracy out O
Rowan county, Kentucky, and no one
I will doubt that the success of thii
2 great movement was stimulated TO az
5 immeasurable degree by the fact tina
Mrs. Stewart was country editor
+ and conducted a well-directed cam
y paign OF publicity in connection will
: her personal activities.
|. There IS not one of the objects
D which / have enumerated as properl.
+ within the power Of the country pres
+ to influence one way or another bu
= will respond readily 20 constan
}. and systematic publicity. The move
r ment for good roads" which ha
e been given such an impetus during
= the last few years, is the result a
e most entirely of carefully plannet
e and inslstent campaign of newspape
/ publicity.
y There is a mass of available infoI
G nation and well-edited literatur
d touching every phase of rural life
/, The country editor who is inteTeste
+ in the growth and development OF hi
t neighborhood, and who would enhanc
d his own fortune through the increase
t prosperity of his patrons, can easil
prepare himself for a systemati
n campaign of education along any o
S these lines. His success then viii de
p pend entirely upon the tact and goo
q common sense with which he conduct
a the required publicity, Shrewd bus
S ness men have accumulated immens
0 fortunes solely through the wise us
n OF printers ink. Good schools, bette
roads, more intelligent and proftabl
y tillRge of the soil, a higher standar,
e of morality. will just as certainly fol
+ low well-directed campaigns of educa
e ton conducted by country edito
a whose integrity is unQuestioned AM
e whose industry and energy are eQua
t to the demands which success viii rs
e quire.
THE On hrfaf &c indicr tive ~ IN