The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1918-07-25

Editorial Influence

w nav ~ SAAN VIZ -
which recently appeared on this
page, the burden of which was
that the people pay virtually no
to editorial advice given
them by the newspapers, that live
and progressive weekly, the A
merican Eagle, of Estero, says:
eve regret very much to note
Bro. Jordan's pessimistic and de-
spairing state of mind, which
seems much akin to that Of the an
Gent prophet who declared that
All is Vanityp But if he, or
any other country editor, thinks
that his editorials are not noticed,
let him write something truthful,
but not entirely complimentary or
pleasing to some leading official
or citizen. 1t matters not wheth-
er said official or citizen is a sub
scriber to the paper or not, he will
read it, and will usually let the
editor know that he has read it,
too. Do not despair, Bro. Jor-
dan; your excellent paper is read
more than you realize. AS long
as it is giving satisfaction, your
subscribers will say nothing about
it. when they don't like it, they
will let you hear from them"
All of which is quite correct.
We are sure that the editorials in
the newspapers, especially the
short ones, are read by subscrib-
ers and others, and that. if the ed
itor prints something that is in
the slightest degree derogatory to
any individual, the latter will
come forward with an explana-
ton, a remOnstrance or a blud-
gcOn. But this does not get at
the gist of The Herald's conten-
ton, the correctness of which is
proved by the fact that, in spite
of repeated warnings given by |
practically all of the newspapers,
many people persist in buying
gold bricks" betting on fake
horse races and electing political
charlatans to some of the highest
Offices.
Take a few illustrations from
Florida political history The la
VIM D. Bloxhan was
for United States sena-
tor, and he was supported by a
large majority of the state news
papers. He was defeated.
James P. Taliaferro ran in the
primaries for United States sena-
,or; and, though he had the active |
support of most of the newspa-
pers, he was beaten by Napoleon |
B. Broward. Previous to that,
the almost unanimous support IF
the state press was given to Rob-
ert w. Davis, candidate for gov
ernor. but the people nominated |
and elected N. B. Broward.
Need we recall the results of
the election of 1916, in which the
for governor who had |
the least newspaper support, came |
out the victor? In the primary |
preceding that election, candi-
date for secretary of state who
was favored by two-thirds of the
newspapers, was beaten two to
one.
Along certain lines of thought
and public policy, the newspapers
do have some influence. What
they say often influences the peo-
pie to vote upon themselves a
great bonded indebtedness, to in
vest generously in Liberty Loans
and War Savings Stamps and to
literally to various
charities and to enterprises de-
signed to benefit the communities
in which they are published; but,
outside of such matters, we hold
that the people in general pay
very little attention to newspa-
per advice.
Members Of congress and of the
legislature, who presumably rep
resent the wishes and views of the
people, instead of acting favora-
ply upon any advice or appeals
by the press, almost in
go directly contrary to
What the newspapers ask and adj
use. Witness the hostile legisla-