Mexico weekly ledger., 1914-04-30


L. NJ. WHITE.
Threats OF the liquor forces to sue
for libel in an effort to quiet us
were ignored and because Of our fair
nessln the fight aided in defeating
them. Much to our surprise this
fight proved of a greater benefit to
subscription list than any eontes'
we could have outlined with NAL
ice aforethought."
We are continually advocating bet
ter things for Mexico, A list OF
what Mexico Needs'as well as n
Of what Mexico is Proud Of" appear
from time to time to stimulate civic
pride. A newspaper should be in ad
vance Of It's community and lead
for It's social and civic uplift.
Through our columns we won the
fight for a Carnegie Library, under
wrote a hospital conducted by the
citizens, raised funds for various char
-it'es and public improvements as well
as eliminated negro prizefighting or
any other activity we consider has no
place IN the normal life of a country
town.
We refuse to accept political Of,
flee Of any kind In this way we kee
free from obligations which might
prove embarrassing and conflict with
our duty to society, This leaves us
free to take the right position. in
any fight for community improvement
without being charged, we have a
personal purpose behind u stand.
While the Ledger Is a Democratic
paper, we are as ready II not a little
quicker TO fight graft In IFS ranks
than in those Of our opponents be-
iieying We should keep our own hous
clean before We are in a position to
sapolio that OF any other.
The editorial columns Of a paper
are the public expression n ITS chara.
araoter and wa try TO write ours with
an especial appeal 10 the reader.
Certain editorials are published
which blvo a destinot news value and
wwiIl catch the attention Of the men
who as a only glances at the
headlines. We are conservative but
progressive never fanatical on any 50
ieet yet our handling Of a question
Is by no means co'orless. We try to
give the paper a wholesome atmos-
phere and a character TO be relied
upon as well as a personality which
you may not agree with.yet you can
not but admire and respect fol-
It's honesty and straightforwardness.
We try to have as MANY attractive
features as is possible with our small
force These features are chosen moi
only because Of their news value but
for other reasons We have one under
the head Of "Neighboring City
News" It cover the news in gen.
eral but always contains much about
improvements in other places. We
believe this stimulates civic pride
and has a tendency to arouse a GER
tain healthy spirit Of competition that
viii, sooner or later. materially aid
IN securing something we need and
which another nearby town possess.
es. Under the head "Improvements'
We publish the news of every new
house or freshly painted fence! When
Mr.. Jones reads about Smith, his
worst enemy, painting his barn he i'm
medihtely invest IN a brush and
bucket and displays his civic pride on
hts faded garage.
J secured my metropolitan newspape
experience on the Denver Post
THE Paper with a Heart and
Soul BE that as It may, we try to Civ
the Ledger as much heart and soul
as a country paper can have without
a Sob Squad" and its attendant
lacbrymose ieremlads.
During the year we devote yaluab-e
space in showing the customer the
economic value OF reading adertlse-
nents And we have their testsmonv
that his education proved a saving
IN their buying. Also we show the
advertiser that a paper which can get
the ready results we do in a cam
paign for public Improvement or char.
table purposes bass the kind OF read.
er7responsiveness that will cash. in
big for them and undoubtedly makea
our space the more valuable.
have offered these personal exner.
%ienees because they are facts and ava
a few things we believe the editor.
oriai responsibility of the country
publisher demands. When the public
learns you are honest in purpose. I'M
man and devoted to the public pood
they are not slow to aid you in max.
Ing the paper the power IT should
be.
10 closing ! wish to speak n
word In behalf of the schools NJ
journalism and especially that ot
Missouri, the first in the uril.
ed States and with which / am N.
miliar. Under tho able direction
OF Walter Williams, the editor a,
tomorrow Is receiving a fuller nm.
derstanding Of what the proroa.
sion means and especially OF Tho
yalue OF public service. II
the lawyers and doctor should be
educated, thore ID Just that much
more reason Why the moulder q,
public opinion should have hIa pro.
fessional school teaching tho hleb.
est ideals OF journalism. / believe