The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-02-27
A Shrap Reproof, Perhaps Merited


The writer OF the following letter
comes from family into which has
gone, week by week, the Reporter and
it's predecessors for probably rs years.
She Is the daughter OF DR.. A Angler
Mann, a physician who was known In
as many families probably as anyone
who ever practiced in Somerset Coun-
ty. Her opinion, so forcibly express
ed below. has great weight with Us
and almost causes US to believe that
one OF the rock-bound (perhaps hide
bound) traditions OF our business may
be an error. We have never believed
that country weekly could present
State, national or world news In any
thing like the attractiveness of the
daily press, or the periodicals. that
have State or national circulation.
Following this principle we have
made no attempt to chronicle the
events that did not pertain exclusively
TO Somerset County. We have tried
TO tell everything that happened in
Somerset County to Somerset County
people wherever they might be. In
making this explanation We were Of
ten led to remark. during the great
war that had the Kaiser been assas
sinated, no mention would have been
made OF ii in the Reporter.
We share Mrs. Wightman's opinion
to a great degree, regarding Roosevelt.
The good for which he laid so sub
stantial foundation will outliye him
for thousand years. We did have a
slight reference to his passing. sent
us by DR.. George Otis Smith. This
gained admittance to our columns not
! because OF the importance of Roose-
velt's death, but because a comment
on that event. from the nations capt.
tai, by distinguished citizen OF this
county. had the element of local in
terest. The same item furnished by
citizen of Pennsylvania (or from any
point from the Kennebec Valley, IL
that citizen were not known to our
readers, would lack entirely the ele-
ment of local interest and We should
not publish 1t.
This letter from Mrs. Wightman, we
believe. will be of deep interest to
our readers, who knew her or have
! heard Of her family.
We are very glad to publish it. The
same letter sent to us by a stranger
would be politely ACKNOWLEDGED but
would not be given space in our pap
er.
This position is difficult Of explana-
ton but our duty seems clear to us to
print, so far as possible, all the Som
erset County news of exclusive local
interest and not to attempt to cover
State and National matters. We hope
Mrs. Wightman will believe us sin
cere in this practice, even If mistaken,
The letter follows
Dear Editor
What Is the matter with my beloved
Independent Reporter? What is the
matter with Skowhegan? Is there no
communication, Geographic or other
wise, with the large cities and the
outside world, that a great and noble
soul can pass from life without men
ton in the paper of any kind?
| Col. Theodore Roosevelt, one OF the
greatest men that ever lived, (and In
my opinion the greatesD has passed
from our midst. Our country is
mourning the loss of its brayest and
truest friend: the world, its greatest
man. What he said. came from the
hearts OF the people. What he did
was for the good of the people. What
he left. benefits the world scientifical-
ly. and historically. His staunch high
grade character. his beautiful and
idealistic homelfe, his high moral
principles. will die when the world
dies Surely the world has lost a
great and good man.
could not believe my eyes, after
looking through every item OF my
dear paper. not to find mention of his
death in the January 9th issue, three
days after Col. Roosevelt passed away
But | have this consolation; that
SOMETHING must have happened to
the town-perhaps il was snowbound
or calamity OF some kind happened for
cannot believe a live-wire place like
Skowhegan could overlook such a
thing, when all of Washington's flags
are at halfmast for thirty DAYS. like
wise-all other cities honor his name.
Certainly dear old Maine has heart
| hope | will see what has been done
in his honor. in orr next issue.
Very truly yours
Alice NJ Mann Wightman.
January 10. 1919.
Newark, n. ].