Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-08-09
UNFAIR TREATMENT

| Whenever a school entertain
ment or some other local affair
is planned, whether the purpose
be to raise money for some par
ticular purpose or to advance
the common interests of the
town, the local newspaper is all
ways one of the first to be asked
to contribute space to make the
affair a success. Ii every inch so
given during the year were to be
paid for at regular advertising
rates, the amount would be sur
prising.
But when the opportunity
lcomes to repay the publisher for
his help by patronizinz him, very
often he is not given the consid-
GRAFTON due him. No doubt many
publishers can recall experiences
similar to that referred to by F..
y. Sutherland, publisher of the
Smithville (Tex.) Times, in an
editorial in a recent issue of his
paper, in which he says:
There is conspicuous lack
in this and last weeks issue of
the Times of news with reference
to commencement activities OF
the class of 1917. In justice to
the Times, and also to the class,
some explanation is due the pub
lie.
1T is the prerogative year
after year of the local newspaper
to chronicle everything pertain
ing to the encouragement of and
advancement of the cause of edu-
cation whether social, financial
or moral. In any event, the
space and time devoted to this
cause would total many dollars.
This is done gladly and without
thanks. For with the proper
Education of the masses the
newspaper reaps its pro rata of
benefit always resultant in all
business as its people become en-
frightened. All business interests
recognize this as principle.
And if money is to be raised in
the cause of local education
business people as class re-
spond willingly and very gener-
|ously.
ut must be conceded, however,
that they are to expect one result
from an educational system they
are prompting-and that one
thing is above everything, that its
schools turn out boys and girls
fitted for good citizenship.
Therefore, if our schools are
graduating boys and girls who
demonstrate clearly that they
have not the slightest conception
OF or appreciation of, the first
principles of good citizenship,
then those who have been gratu-
itously giving time and money
for their education have excuse
for criticizing the system under
which these have been graduated
This year, with a newspaper
that has consistently built for %
Years in interest of the Smithvillt
public school systematic class
of 1917 let the contract for theil
invitations totaling something
over $500 to some northern sta.
toner, without giving the Time:
even the privilege of bidding
This demonstrates three things
First; that they are turning gu
graduates without the first idea
of practical business tranSac.
ton; for to let contract involv.
ing SO large an amount OF none,
, without finding out whether the.
could do better elsewhere, eithe.
in quality or price, shows a pitt
able lack of business acumen
Second, it demonstrates that the.
are lacking in sense of obliga
l ton and appreciation Of force
that have been working for man,
.1years in their interest. Third,
demonstrate that the first ethic
of citizenship, civic pride, publ
spirit and home building hav
j never been brought to their at
tention.
This is not a criticism of tn
class of 1917. They are simpl
good boys and girls doing exact
ly as they have been taught. An
the fact that they have many i'm
practical isms and ologies tina
have no connection whatever wit
4 practical life stored in thei
heads, does not mean that we ar
eTiticizing their teachers. Gu