The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-01-24
The Country Editor
and His Opinions.

The following editorial discussion,
between one editor who evidently
thinks himself in a class outside the
country print shop and another who
is not above being enrolled as one OF
the so-called country editors, opens
up very interesting held for specu-
lation:
1t is little amusing to observe
the editorial columns of some of the
small weeklies. published in Florida
villages, devoted almost entirely to a
grave discussion of the European war
situation. Well, probably it makes
the editors happy. though it certainly
does not materially affect the war
situation.--Dade City Banner.
Brother, you have heard that tall
oaks from little acorns grow? We
know you have. And this ought to
make you think well of the country
editor who discourses on a matter as
important as the big war in Europe.
And why should these editors neglect
to discuss a matter that affects every
nook and crannie of these United
States? Some OF the best writer's on
the metropolitan press came from the
country print shops. For instance,
there is Henry Watterson, whose
trenchant pen leaves mark from
Maine to the borders OF Texas:
George ID. Prentiss, Bob Burdette,
and others, who served an apprentice
ship In the country print shop. And
there Is Stovall of the Tampa Tri-
bune. Frank Mayes of The Pensacola
JournaL Jordan of the Punta Gorda
Herald, Joe Dixon OF the Lakeland
Telegram. all of whom have swung
Washington hand press or served an
apprenticeship sweeping the office floor
and washing the rollers. And what
objection can be found to a country
editor discussing any proposition that
is familiar to him, be he from Sop
Choppy or Big Jax?--Apalac hicola
Times.
When Editor Johnston says that
some OF the best metropolitan writer's
have come from the country press, no
tells the truth. But he might have
gone further and with equal truth
have said that many OF the best edi-
torial writer's in the world today are
still editing the so-called country
As q matter of fact. the editorial
utterances of the country newspapers
contain more Of sincerity. of individ-
uaiity, and Of independence than do
the editorial columns Of the metro
politan papers. They at the same time !!
exercise more influence over their |
readers than do the city papers and
In many cases they are edited with !
equal or greater ability.
The country editor is not harassed |
by the bullying of big business on the
one hand or the exactions Of labor !
unions on the other. He knows moth |
ing of boycotts, strikes. or lock-outs. |
He has no department stores to |
truclle to and no labor agitators to
appease- Ordinarily he is not bur-
dened with an excessive debt and the !
pay roll nightmare seldom troubles his
dreams.
Most city editors are hired men," /
who merely write the opinions of
other men. The country editor does
his own editing. expresses his own
opinions. and forms his opinions from
an unbiased and disinterested |
knowledge of the facts at hand
We would rather trust the opinions
of dozen honest country editors than
the advice of ten times that many
hired editors on the metropolitan
press.
Certainly. the country editor may
with prcpriety discuss war, politics,
agriculture, finance, industry or any
other subject. And the city editor
may well profit by the honesty and
which his country
brother exemplifies in most of his