The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-06
THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE PAGE
address of Archibald Johnson, Editor OF Charity and
Children, read before the North Carolina Press
Association in session at Montreal July ~

tndC is strongly eOlteO IS the one tndl |
holds the highest place in public
favor.
We are come upon a place now that
illustrates what 1 am trying to say.
The people of the United States are
earnestly looking for light in the maze,
and passion. and peril of this strange
period in the worlds history. No class
Of men on earth bear so grave a re-
spOnsibility as the editor Of the daily
newspaper. They are the opponents
of the American spirit. They are the
spokesman for the people. Their
tone and temper and attitude will en-
ter largely into the determination of
the tremendous issue that confrOnts
us. Peace or war-Which shall it be?
No other perhaps in all the world will
play so large a part in answering this
momentous question as the editors Of
American newspapers.
SentinelS on the Watch Tower.
Upon the pOise of judgment. the
sense Of justice, the balanced wisdom,
the fine discrimination between right
and wrong, great deal depends in this
crucial hour. III newspapers are
| the sentinels upon the watch towers.
They must give no uncertain sound.
Upon their u~tterances millions are
leaning. A weak and fabby response,
to this high demand is almost crimi-
a A cOlorless, contemplate, inane,
pointless and pitiful editorial column
when half the world is wrapped in
the fame of war ought to send it's
owner into bankruptcy.
But what about the editorial page
OF a weekly paper? Some say that
a weekly has no business with an edi-
torial policy at all; that the dailies
should do the thinking and the week
lies h copying.
Perhaps seventy-five per cent of
the newspaper readers Of North Caro-
lima do not see a daily. They depend
upon the county paper for infOrma-
ton. They make up their minds and
formulate their opinions largely upon
what they gather in the local paper.
Why should the weekly newspaper
De content to mage itself a parrot ?
l enter my protest against this senti-
ment as a gross reflection upon the
editor of the weekly paper. The
1act Is some of the strongest, sound
est and most helpful editorials
read, l find in the columns of our
weekly and semi-weekly papers.
1t is not at all necessary that our
editorials be classic like those Of the
New York Sun. Some of us are not
able to array our thoughts in thai
l OF clothing, but we can all be
thoughtful, eanest and
We w the facilities. We can read
the opinions Of our daily brethren
0AU AoAAA OuI own CONCLUSIONS. W.
nave streams of light focused on GU,
desks that ought to make US torch
bearers to our readers. We hav.
clgh-pr1ced preachers in our cities
) put country pastors would soon b,
looking for new places If they rea<
2 the sermons Of their city brethren
: TO their people; still they may find il
: help and inspiration for their owl
: work in the narrower sphere.
e Financial Asset.
{ Aside from these high considera
: tions which ought to weigh mos
4 heavily upon us, I maintain that
! strong editorial page in a countr
cgial asset hat it can have. Thos
: papers will win the favor and tn
!; patronage of the public whose edi
I torial expression is the stronges,
9 clearest and most helpful. I hav
e in mind as I write a paper while
comes to my Office twice a week tina
and inspiring and thought-provokin
: as | n in any paper in the Stat.
e daily or weekly. The editor Of tina
paper Is respected by all good cit
g zens, and feared by all bad one.
+ His paper is a tower of strengt
e and a money maker. It is the prid
Of the town and the competitors ar
out Of the question. It's prime il
q terest is the betterment Of it's peop1
and the purifying and uplift OF put
lie sentiment. It speaks in tones {
thunder in behalf Of civic righteou!
~ ness. n lashes the evi1-doer wit
n, a scorpion whip. That man is on
n throne. He is fulfilling the missio
Is Of an honorable calling. He is a MAJ
ae not a ~mollycodd1e.
n How then can the editorial pas
i be made strong? First, I would So
Is that an editor must be diligent. n
lazy man Is fit to edit a newspape
Mt I wish some one would tell me VIII;
p a lazy mar is fit for except to ifs
at in a stream where there are no fs
tn He certainly cannot make q new
Id paper. Have you ever picked up
exchange with a bright man in chars
Of it and hoping to find a fresh, brig
editorial message pulsing with Ii
'st and power. You find an article TO,