The Republican journal., 1916-04-20
THE EDITORIAL PAGE.

the last annual meeting of the Maine
Press Association was ''The Editorial
Page" We were unable to be present,
and no report of the discussion has been
published, but the question at issue, as
we understand it, was whether the coun-
try weekly should have an editorial page
not page, in fact, but from stickfull
to one or two columns of loaded BREWER
under the editorial head and from the
editorial head, or pen. We should say
that majority of the Maine weeklies
do not have editorials at all, or only &C.
casionally, and that those maintaining
regular editorial department are COM
paratively few. This question is often
discussed in our trade journals, with a
decided difference of opinion: some advo-
eating and others opposing such a de-
partmentin country weekly, on grounds
that seem equally conclusive in both
cases.
In the discussion at Portland we should
expect to find one Maine editor in the
negative. His time is so taken up with
clipping coupons and fattening his bank
account that unless you can show him
direct financial returns from an editorial
column he will continue to OCCUPY the
space with town or county news or paid
locals We do not mention his name
least he might be overwhelmed with calls
10 endow libraries, hospitals, etc. 9th
ers no doubt find that the manifold duties
and cares involved in publishing weekly
newspaper, with or without a job print
ing department, demand all their time
and thought. And it may be. though We
hesitate to say it, that some have no
talent for editorial writing; and then
there are no doubt constituencies which
do not call for matter of this kind.
The very earliest newspapers we have
seen had no editorials, but were made
up mainly of foreign news several months
OLD, with home happenings scarcely less
ancient, such as war news, proceedings
OF Congress, ETC., and we recall one news
paper which contained only the Presi-
dent 5 message. But within the memory
OF the writer editorials became the lead
ing feature, and the papers that ranked
the highest in public estimation were
those that maintained an editorial de-
partment. The editorials were seldom
less than one column and oftener two
columns or more in length. In the files of
The Republican Journal at hand. dating
pack 10 1879, there are editorials that
would command attention today. "There
were giants IN the earth in those DAYS. :"
Later, editorials were briefer, but no less
aple and vigorous, and we doubt if there
are any editorials today that have the
influence on the people of those in the
New York Weekly Tribune under the
edltorship of Horace Greeley. Certain.
iy the editorials in the yellow journals,
with their large type, spread over two
columns, sprinkled with italics and typo
graphical freaks, can have no influence
upon sane people. Having got little
Oft the track and into the field of dsilv
Journalism it is necessary to 90 back half
a century and more in tracing the evolu-
ton OF the editorial, to say that Joe"
Howard was the originator of the minor
editorials, in the early COS. That we
believe was the heading given in the
New York Times to paragraphs set in
smaller type and Immediately following
the editorials. Other papers soon fol-
lowed, using various headings, or with
out headings.
But, to return to the Maine weeklies.
The late William H. Simpson, for %
years editor of The Republican Journal,
was one of the first Maine editors to at
tract attention by his bright and snappy
editorial paragraphs. His longer arti-
cles were no less able, and in a controversy
he was an antagonist to be feared. Be-
cause The journal has had an editorial
page from the beginning, and because
school, and his work before becoming a
country editor was mainly in that line, he
has endeavored to continue this depart
ment, though handicapped by other work,
much of which has come to be drudgery.
There are still few readers who seem
10 enjoy an editorial of the old tune
length, but experience has proved that
the paragraph is the most effective. Up
in Bridgton Mayor H. A. Shorey con-
tributes to his paper, the Bridgton
News, column of editorial paragraphs
that are widely read. There are younger
Shorey's in the office, who do good work
in other departments, but the Individual
lty of their senior is plainly indicated IN
the editorial column. We recall no other
veteran now in the harness in the week.
ly press, and will make mention of two
editors of later generation who should
be heard from oftener. Up in Dover is
Liston P. Evans of the Piscataquis OBJ
server, and when an editorial appears IN
his paper it is read, clipped, read again
and laid aside to be reprinted in The
Journal. His articles are marked by
practical common sense, kindly and
Christian spirit, and are thus Characters
fir of thoir autnor Tn pooLlop1 r,o