Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1916-12-22
HOTALnQ WRITES OF RURAL
PRESS ,

Of the Blue Earth County Enterprise,
is the author Of an article on "The
Rural Journalist in the October
number of the Journal OF Agriculture,
published by the University of Cali
fornia. The University Farm Press
News reprints the article below, be-
interested in what Mr.. Hotaling says:
A speaker at the Minnesota Edi-
torial association last winter said
"Agriculture is the biggest thing in
industry" and no one doubted the
statement. There were those who did
question whether the rural press had
really awakened to the Importance of
its country constituency ana whether
the farmer had awakened to the use
fulness Of the press to his business.
There are SO many matters in COM
mon that we welcome the interest Of
the young people in our schools Of ag-
riculture, in journalism and in their
demand for knowledge along practical
lines.
Relation to the Farm
The country newspaper, if it is alive
to it's responsibilities and its possibili-
ties, is, with every issue, drawing near
er to its agricultural constituency as
it recognizes are located upon the
farms which surround the village that
constitutes it's headquarters. Like a
central office Of a telephone company
with it's wires radiating in every direc-
ton, the well-founded printing office
has it's correspondents located in every
school district, always alert to the do
~ +ho ID
itor constantly has his hand upon the
the needs Of his people. Thus once
knowing the requirements of the local
ity, it is his place to measure up to
the responsibilities by not only advo-
eating through his publication such
matters as will benefit the greatest
number, but he should go out into the
fields which are ripe for The harvest,
attend the farmers club gatherings,
participate in and encourage their
fairs, assist in building up the CON-
munity church and in every way help
to eradicate the barriers which now
separate too many villages from the
country districts that surround them
There should be absolute cooperation
between farmer and business man and
no imaginary boundary line permitted
to divide them. BY working together,
land values are advanced and in the
distribution OF prosperity all must par
ticipate.
Cooperation Urged
It is the country newspaper place
to point out the advantages and bene-
fits of this loyal cooperating, this.
trusting one another and bring all to
q realization that the home friends are
the best friends after all. In fact, the
duties and responsibilities Of the conn
try editor ore to endeavor to bring
to the people of his community a
broader vision of life itself. The great
war witch is now waging it's relentless
battles in Europe has brought home to
us all as never before how dependent
even the nations are upon one another.
How necessary it is that we individ-
ually take an interest in one another's
lives and bear one another's burdens.
There is a realization throughout the
country that there is too great, an exo-
dus from the rural districts to the city,
and no less an authority than Right
Honorable Sir Horace Plunkett, for
over thirty years a student of agrl-
cultural cooperation and author Of
"Rural Problems of the United
States,' says: "Were it not for the
steady stream Of rugged strength from
the countryside the cltv would ulti-
mately lose it's population He adds
further, "American civilization has
been dominated by the city. There its
strivings, there it's marvellous achieve
r1ents have been centered. It's
thought ana action came from the
heart and mind of the city, and its
Failures, which have eliminated IN
the present war, are from the same
source. May we not make a serious
effort to strengthen our civilization on
its neglected sides The more we pom
der upon the causes of the war and
upon the conditions Of an enduring
peace, the more we come to realize
that there is no better work for the
statesman, the economist and the So
cial worker than in an all-around re-
construction of rural life-a return to
the simpler things, the better physical
and moral condition of closer rela-
tionship with Moth.r Earth.'
Journalist Has Problems
As a vocation, it is thus evident that
the man who takes up rural journalism
will not only have large constituency
but will have broad problems for con-
sideration. It is a man s task, and the
one who undertakes it will have album
dant opportunity to give something to
the world for the remuneration which
he receives. The remuneration, how
ever, need not be unsatisfactory, for
the field of rural journalism is one
which may be followed with even more
financial returns than many of the So
called professions, but like the farm
er, he will have to labor with no
eight-hour restrictions to his time OF
toll, no watching the clock and no
soldering on the job who is to become
a public benefactor and give the COM
munity that which it deserves, for only
the best is good enough. He should
be an advocate Of prepared soil and
tested seed.
/ A half century ago agriculture was
classed as drudgery. Today it is an
art, and the man who undertakes
+; farming without taking advantage OF
H. hv