The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-05-13
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HARD ON NEWSPAPERS

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Herald, so completely explains what
practically every weekly paper in
the South has had to contend with
during the period of hard times
following the outbreak of the Euro
pean war and the slump in cotton
this paper included, to an appreci-
able degree that we reprint it, in
order that our readers may, per-
haps, reflect little and understand
that the newspaper is one of the
first institutions to feel the effects
of business depression:
The business institutions that have
suffered the most during the present
financial depression have had the
least to say. We refer to the great
number of newspapers throughout
the country, both large and small.
Week after week these newspapers
have come to our office and week
after week we have read their edi-
torial columns with the regularity
of the rising and setting of the sun.
1t matters not how blue and dis
couraged those editors might have
felt there is always reflected in the
editorial page that same spirit of
optimism, that abiding faith in the
ultimate triumph of those things
that make for the country's good.
We know how it stands with many
of those editors. We have talked
with them, and know the bank
balances have dwindled down to al
most nothing. In some instances
there were no balances at all; the
last months pay roll had not been
met in full and there were paper
bills piling up against them. Still
they did not complain. The very
next issue breathed that same spirit
of optimism, with here and there
flash of wit or dash of humor that
left the impression that with them
all was well.
The newspaper cannot complain.
It cannot weary it's readers with its
trials and tribulations. 1t is not
like the sick man who dies a thous-
and deaths before the final sum-
mons comes. When the hour of
suspension arrives it is sudden and
unexpected, so far as the public IS
concerned. This week it may smile
and the next it may die.
Of all the business institutions of
the country the newspapers have
been hit the hardest. We do not
refer to any particular newspaper.
All are in the same class. Some
may be a little more prosperous
than others-they may have strong
er financial backing-but, weak or
strong, all have suffered. So do not
think, dear reader, because the edi-
tor does not howl about hard times
in every issue of his paper that he is
prosperous and does not need the
money you owe him. He cannot
afford to harp on the subject of
hard times. His paper comes to
you regularly on the day of publi-
cation, it looks as prosperous as in
the days of yore, you read it and
toss it aside little dreaming of the
effort that it cost to put it into your
hands.
That is because the editor is an
optimist, or if he suffers he suffers
in silence. He does not care to
bore his readers with the details of
his business. AS We said in the
beginning, the newspapers of the
country have been hit the hardest,
but the public is not aware of it.
The most of them will weather the
storm, bat those that can't will pass
out with smile-a happy adieu to
the readers who have enjoyed their
daily and weekly visits through
many seasons of adversely and pros
perity.