The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-01-07
THE HOME PAPER.
From the Atlanta Constitution.

The "little old country town" of few
years ago has, with seeming suddenness, as
sumed city proportions; landmarks have
changed; the postofice is no longer in dim
corner of the old town grocery but pre-
sents the granite front of a goodIy govern
ment building.
And there's town bank-perhaps sew
eral-with something metropolitan about it,
near which numerous automobiles are
parked; bigger, better business houses on all
sides, while the old familiar pastime of
'checker-playing" on the old pine box on
the main street has been relegated to remote
rural districts
And to keep pace with this progress,
which it was so great factor in making, the
weekly newspaper of the old days has, in
numerous instances, become the daily of
the new.
And as to this best evidence of progress
The Madison (Ga) Madisonian says that
the time is past when the local paper can be
conducted with pocket change"
To this The Dawson (Ga) News adds
that mo longer can some ambitious individ-
ual acquire a Washington hand press and a
case of long primer type, and begin the
enlightenment of the world and the mould
ing Of public pOnion as editor and pub
Usher Of a newspaper" for "the cost these
days Of equlppng newspaper plant that
will in anyway meet the demands and re
OF the average stock Of merchandise, to say
nothing Of salaries commanded by competent
printers for few hours work each day
The printer Of today draws a salary far in
excess of that Of the store clerk and works
only eight hours, whereae the clerk puts in
twelve or more hours out Of every twenty
four.
THE good old days of country journalism.
when the editor had time to stroll up and
down the streets swapping talk and tobacco
with his friends, attend all the picnics and
barbecues, and spend a considerable part of
his time enjoying 'cOurtesies' extended bv
the railroads are no more. An eternal
grind and hustle and expense is now the
order in every print show worthy of the
name"
"The eternal grind and hustle and ex-
pense" is the right way Of putting it; and
IN this connection the greatest credit in the
world is due the weekly newspapers of the
state for the manner in which they have
come through under eXacting war conditions
hard as they have been on the greater
business of the country
Here and there a weekly paper has gone
to the WALL" but largely they have met all
conditions and given splendid service to home
and country They have spared no expense
in presenting the news to their readers-in
meeting every demand, local and national.
They have successfully taught the towns
where they are published the lesson of grow
ing up to them; They had to keep the lead
as to every phase of progress, and that is
just what they have done.
And the enterprising business men Of their
communities have helped them to do this
have stood loaylly to them with the greater
patronage which comes from greater bus
mess.
All have helped alike, as all should help,
and the town has proved worthy of the pa
per that made the town.
The weekly sheet has been enlarged, to
give the war news, to the limit of capacity,
and the small town daily has accomplished
great things in every progressive locality.
All this was-and is-due to home appre-
citation of the worth of live newspaper to
its community
Long life, enlarged usefulness and more
power to all of them,