The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-06-07
Why Editors Die Poor.
From HE Commerce News.

In a recent issue of the Augusta Chronicle
Editor Tom Loyless discusses at length the
poverty of newspaper men, and seeks to find
reason for it. He cites Smith Clayton,
who died an object of charity in Atlanta
some time ago. He refers to Henry Grady,
Henry Richardson, Josiah Carter, Wallace
Reed, Montgomery Folsom, Steve Postell,
and Frank Stanton, and says that Alex Beal-
er quit the newspaper business and went to
preaching, determined that if he had to die
poor to remain poor in the service of the
Lord. Mr. Loyless says, finally, as a reason
why so many men remain in the newspaper
business with a full knowledge of the fact
that it means filling a poor mans grave is
the smell of the printers ink. Once man
gets printers ink on his hands it is hard to
rub off. From an experience of several years
and from observation we knew that all coun-
try editors were doomed to fill a pauper's
grave; but, honestly, we did think that the
editors of the great dailies Jared better. The
average country editor thinks he is coming
the gold if he can get from eight to ten dol
lars page for advertising, while the dalles
scoop in from 500 to $500 per page. 1t IS
doubtless true, however, that they have
proportiOnate expense account to meet We
do not agree with Mr.. Loyless, however,
when he says that Smith Clayton wasted his:
splendid talents in the newspaper business
If success depends on the quantity OF money
one can make then Mr.. Loyless is correct.
But that is not true. We need only to draw
a contrast in the lives of the late Henry w.
Grady and that of the late James NJ. Smith
to determine whether money is the basis of
success or not. 1t is, on the contrary, the
last and least item that could be put into
the column of things considered contrihu
tors to success. The press is a power, for
good or evil. 1t cannot be denied that, on
the whole, the influence of the press is for
good. Even among the country editors they
are usually found on the right side of all
tk0n
community. AS a rule, they make larger
contributions to the good of the community
than many men who own vast fortunes.
But editors are not the only men who die
poor The ministers of the gospel know what
poverty means. This is especially true of
ministers who lived half a century ago-lived
in the saddle and preached every day in the
week, receiving less than 5000 year. They
lived poor and died poor, so far as this
worlds goods are concerned, and yet they
were rich in experience and IN trultfulness,
and will live in the hearts and lives of the
people they served so faithfully long after
they have been dead.
The school teacher is another example.
Where can a faithful, efficient school teacher
be found who has made money?
And yet, with all their poverty, the lives
of faithful ministers and efficient school
teachers have been successful lives. The
same is true of the conscientious, competent
newspaper man. He fills a sphere that no
other class of men occupy He does work
that no other agency or man can do. lie IS
power for good in his community. These
three-the minister, the teacher and the edi-
tor-are all in a class to themselves. They
are indispensable to the public good, and yet
they live poor and die poor. The preacher
cleaves to his work because he IS called OF
God The teacher teaches because he is bet
ter capacitated for that service than any 9TH
err The editor sticks to his job because he
loves it. 1t has a fascination for him, and
however much he may desire to shift his
work that promises no material income he
remains with it because he enjoys it.