The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-06

matter to write FOUR uneS, convey
ing the information that, Jones
Brown has purchased a Ford; but
it takes work to dig up a fresh and
stimulating thought and put it down
in white and black. The man who
cannot write an editorial to save his
life always depreciates n value Of
editorial work, and the man who can
write, but is too lazy agrees with him,
but he knows better. Worthless or
on the public. They may not be able
to explain it, but they know it when
they see it. Intellectual hash is not
relished by the reading public. Writ
ing editorials is no picnic. It demands
careful and extensive reading. He
who feeds others, must himself be
fed. The editorial page Of a paper
the largest expenditure Of energy Of
any other department.
Editor Must Love His Work.
An editorial writer must love his
work. We can do nothing we'll that
we do not low to do. Labored writ
ing makes labored reading. The me-
chanical writer whose chief motive is
to fill space fills nothing else. His
work has the metallic ring. 1t lacks
the ring of sincerity and honesty.
There must be aim, purpose and
hlCdIIAIS III "Idt d IlldA WIALcS. OI1OOS-
ing paper pellets at the ceiling is
small business for a full grown man.
An editorial writer must be free.
A hired man may be able to harness
a horse, but he cannot run a paper.
He must reflect his own sentiment,
not those Of a boss. I may be able
to make my own thoughts burn, but
not because Of another. Matches
once struck, will strike no moro.
"Hand-me-down" editorial opinions
are always stale. The mind must
have freedom to do it's best work. To
hamper it is to clog the wheels. And
then the editorial writer must not be
a slave to the party boss. No news
paper "organ" was never very strong.
The real editor must nave liberty to
break through party lines, and lay
the lash on a rascal, whether he be a
Democrat or a Republican. The pub
lie has come to see the distinction be-
tween a slave and a free man, and
they read the paper that is made by
the freeman. 1t wa this new path OF
Journalistic freedom on which joe
Caldwell first blazed the way. Hi:
paper was no hide-bound partisan
but offered every honest man {
chance to be heard. It was on thi,
breath of freedom that the Observes
grew to be sc great and strong.
Above all, the editorial writer mus
o0 AoIcSl. ne CdNuOl DE d ume
server. He must stand four-sQuar'
to every wind hat blows. He ma,
often be wrong but if he is honest
the public will forgive his mistakes
and trust him. If, however, when
crisis comes, when he should pla,
the man. no matter how many sub
scribers he loses, and if he plays tn
craven coward and STILES his ow1
convictions, in order to please tn
crowd, he Is a certain to fall int
public contempt as the rising Of to
morrow's sun. Honesty cannot b
feigned. 1t must be the genuin
thing. Running after some big mar
or some big paper is foolishness. .
would rather be right than be Presi
) House n day. "Well 0 will neve
: be either" drawled Tom Reed fror
: the Speakers chair.
Every newspaper. whether big c
;. little, daily, or weekly, in city Q
: village, must live it's own life, hol
to its own convictions OF truth an
! duty, and own it's own soul. If
shout M too" it deserves the earl
D and ignominous death that is sure I
claim it for it's own.
am proud to be able to say ths
: the press Of North Carolina is maxim
It steady advancement in general e.
a fciency, but in no other respect al
y our papers making more progress
: than in the virility, the freedom an
9 the courage of their editorial EXPIRE,
e sion. We have before US, brethre.
a mighty mission and a tremendo,
responsibility. Let us magnify o,
e calling and put to shame the carpir
h critic who speaks OF newspaper me
t as towards and slaves.
IL
GA Tnuino TSoV