The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-12

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Mr.. President, and Ladies and Gentle
men of the Southeast Missouri
Press
Before writing, have something to
say" is an adage old.
To tell you of the women of the
Southeast Missouri Press is more
difficult task than you men would ev-
er dare dream, as very few of our wo-
men Il am sorry to say) have come
into public light. But upon looking
into the matter more deeply, | find
that many of. our Southeast Missouri
papers can give credit to great help
from her women.
The women of the different papers
are gradually coming to the front.
The movement is scarcely percepti-
BILE but we have linked ourselves with
the Importance of the press, working
modestly, but none the less success
fully, and now we feel that we have
gained foot hold, from which we in
tend to climb to the great goal of pro-
ficiency. The place for the woman is
where she can best serve the cause
of better government and. better laws
and better civilization. Many men
look upon US as an inferior creature,
when it comes to business qualifica-
tons, but we are happy to say they
always turn to us on all occasions for
advice and help.
We find that many of the women
who are so skillfully helping their
husbands in the newspaper work have
gradually become interested, finally
fascinated with the work, and also
realizing the woman editors oppor-
tunity Of the future, they are meeting
the situation with energy and skill.
Men have long ago realized That it
takes women to mirror the minute
events for the personal column. Many
of the papers have women reporters
upon different lines. The advertising
field is also an attractive proposition,
although highly specialized and prob
ably the hardest task of all. A wo-
man is generally a good collector al
so. We find that several of the South
east Missouri women have been sue
cessful along these lines. may men
ton Mrs. Jobe of Bloomfield, Miss
Griffith of Cape Girardeau, Miss Allen
of New Madrid, Miss McClain and
Miss Mitchem of your own little city.
and many others.
While we have many society and
literary editors, and some are entire
ly managed and edited by women
alone. as is the Republican at Caruth-
ersville by Mrs. Smith. the Record of
Hillsboro with Mrs. Reppy as asso-
ciate editor, and my sister speaker of
Festus, have complete charge of their
papers.
If you will pardon the personal ref
erence will say, / have had charge
of our little sheet at Advance for the
past two years. Mr.. O'Neal, having
many other business responsibilities,
is away from home a greater part of
the time. ] felt it my duty to be-
come interested in the work. After the
death of our son two years ago, it
seemed to me to be busy was my only
salvation, and now / hope that never
shall be separated from the work.
There is plenty of work for the South
east Missouri woman to do along these
lines.
This is the age of specialization on
the newspaper and the Southeast Mis-
souri, woman has come to stay and
take a part. We do not want to be
the men, for many of US are very glad
we are different. We women have
different angle of approach from men.
We realize more and more the sex
lines are disappearing and men and
women are standing shoulder to
shoulder in the newspaper world par
ticularly. Several excellent articles
have come from the pen of the South
east Missouri women, such as from
Ida NJ Shilling and Jane Ringo of
the Cape Normal Miss Rowena
Shaner of Jackson and Mrs. Stokes
of Dexter have contributed some
heavy articles along the temperance