Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-07-27
OFFICE FATAL
TO EDITORS.

The Springfield Republican says;
"More- than any other profession
newspaper work admits OF no dlVl-
ded allegiance. The great mistake OF
Horace Greeley's life was made When
he allowed himself to be persuaded to
run for the presidency, and thereby
an honorable career was brought TO
a sad anticlimax. Instances might
be multiplied OF officeholding editors
whose influence has thereby been dis
sipated. The editorial office calls for
judicial quality of the highest order,
and no ofticeholder possesses that.
He cannot be a distinterested conf
mentator on men and things. 1t is
necessary that the editor keep HIM
self free from entangling alliances
of all kinds. The newspaper men OF
the United States are slowly COM
ing to this larger view of an environ
ment which is quite as necessary to
them as to our judges.
"The late Thurlow Weed, pro-
minent editor in his day, said that
he did not know any newspaper man
who had taken office who had not IN
that act gone wrong That is the law
and the gospel for real newspaper
men,"
The late Edgar Snowden, who from
early manhood until he reached the
advanced evening of life occupied the
editorial chair of the Alexandra
Gazette, realized the truth of the
above. He had barely entered the
portals of manhood when his father,
Samuel Snowden, died, and he was
compelled to renounce the practice
of law and take his place at the heac
of the Gazette. Like most young men.
he at first was allured by politics, and
after filing several minor positions
in his home city was elected Mayor,
and Delegate to the Legislature he
soon, however, realized that the man
who assumed the editorial cnair
should concentrate all his powers to
that calling-in fact that he should
no in love with it if he would Sue
coed. After having filled his term as
Delegate, he virtually renounced OH
cial life and for years devoted NM
self exclusively to his editorial de-
ties. In the latter part of the htties'
however, he was enticed into the Con
gressional field. The district then
known as the seventh was largely
democratic, and William C"ENtra BIZ
Ivy Smith of Fauquier county, had
for some time been our Congressman
But. like every other man
who runs often, he had made
enemies, and the democratic
party of the district split and no.
minated two candidates. The Wings
saw an opportunity to elect their
candidate on plurality, and Edgar
Snowden. one of the most prominent
and popular men at that time IN VIZ
cinia, was importuned to stand as
their candidate. After considerable
hesitation he consented, and one Of
the most active campaigns ever car
ricd on in this Congressional DIS
trict followed. Smith was fighting 61oi
his political life and he won, but ~
a nose.
Mr.. Suowden subsequently became
more steeled than ever against III
lowing his name to be used IN III
ture as candidate for any place II
the gift Of the people. In 1859, wnef
the state was about to re-enser the
union. he was suggested as one O
the United States Senators from TIT
Old Dominion. Had ne become IN
terested he might. have been elected
by the Legislature. He was infleSi
BILE, however, and the bee buzzed :.
vain.
The late Douglas Wallach, for man,
hears owner and publisher of tn
Washington Star, sold that paper to
company about this time. He ha
made fortune out of the paper an
E..1.
having purchased farm in Culpe'
er, announced himself a candidate Il
Congress from this district He mac
acanvass. after which he retired an
endorsed the regular democratic non
inee.