Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-11-13
OBSERVATIONS
(By a Cornfleld Philosopher.)

(By a Cornfleld Philosopher.)
xl.-ELEcTIoN AFTERMATH.
Now that the election Is over the
people will have two full years to
educate themselves on political mat
ters and it is to be hoped that they
will take advantage of the opportunity.
The word politics means, "the SCI
ence Of government" anda politician In
the true sense of the word Is person
| who studies and understands the form,
the structure and the purpose Of gov.
eminent.
At all times and in all past ages
| there has been a never ceastng con-
flict between the privileges Of the
few" and the rights and interests of
| the many, and from the very nature |
of the case that struggle will not end
so long as time shall endure. This |
contest has assumed a variety of
forms. The defenders of privilege
seldom fight fair. Falsehood and de-
ception are their most potent weapons.
Appeals to ignorance, prejudice, and
egotism or self cOnceit are very sue
cessfully used in misleading the hon
est voter who down in his heart de-
sires to do what is right.
The three great factors that largely
mould public opinion are the press,
the forum and the pulpit. OF these
the newspaper is undoubtedly the
greatest, because it reaches every.
: body. The true and only real mission
of a newspaper is to tell the truth"
, but alas! how few live up to this
high ideal especially in political
campaign.
Nine tenths of our great newspapers
are more or less unreliable when 1t
; comes to politics because they are
owned or subsidized AS one Of their
number John Swinton) once boldly
declared the average editor of big
paper is an intellectual prostitute. !"
4 That is, he makes deception his trade,
and the more skillfully he can de-
4 ceive his readers the larger the sal
airy he commands! The most danger
Gus enemy a man can take into his
: home is an unreliable newspaper, a
Y: fact that too few people realize.
II The first thing that those who re-
< sire to do right, should learn, is to
T weed out and discontinue the papers
that practices falsehood and decep.
ton. Happily the government will
: lend it's aid on this matter for all
Z publishers must now demand payment
8 in advance and cut off all subscribers
g three months in arrears.
n
A newspaper is primarily published
10 for profit and this depends in a large
j. measure upon it's subscription list
10 Editors will have an incentive to tel
a. the truth" when failure to do sc
le means an inevitable loss of readers
te But so long as people will continue
st to pay their hard earned money tt
e. support "hireling press" editors ant
" publishers of that class Of papers
experience proves will not be lacking
Is A full and free and fair discussion
I'd of a. public matter must precede in
e. telligent action for men fully informed
p upon all phases of a question will
ce not go far wrong because a vas
majority down in their heart o
hearts desire to do what is right &C
9e cording to the best of their knowledge
e. The most important Injunction il
re the Holy Bible, especially affecting
es worldly affairs, is contained in tn
words, "Prove (investigate) all thing
and hold fast (accept( to that whic]
te sermon from that text some day TO
er. layman and l am also inclined to add
| mi f ~ G0cno1 Thi
admoniti0n means that no one SHOULD
be condemned without a hearing tina
our minds should be open at all time
to receive the truth.
When the Non-Partisan Leagu
first made it's advent into North Dakc
ii ia it set up the claim, backed by tn
~ results of scientific research an
N experiment conducted by learned an
10 skillful men at the State Agriculture
he College, that the grain growers O
TO- that state were losing, lowing to
he system of grain grading that had bee1
st established) over so millions of dol
ID lars annually, an average of 1900 t.
ID each grain grower. The truth, o
ns falsity of this statement was tae rea
10. ISSUE If the farmers lost it some
hit body else got it and it must be tn
grain handlers. Someone who stoo'
ia between the grower and the flour con
"a sumner Did these parties meet tn
"a. issue like men and settle it in tn
IL forum of public discussion? Neve
in the world! But in all the paper
they controlled of could use, they be
gan a systematic a use of ''Townley
ism" as they called it, which has con
tinued to this day.
40 To get truth before the people, farm
80 ers are very wisely deciding to estab
% lish a press Of their own in all sec
a. ~ tons where they cannot get a fai
Is hearing. The country editors in ever!
Is: part of the state that follows the LEAF
- of the big city dailies and denies tt
- farmers the use of their columns arr
~ going to see local papers supplied
,e with ample capital spring up in com
-. ptition and draw the farmers support
y A few privately owned country papers
b, b. t.,>..,..,..'.........,.'..
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