The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-03-27
An Explanation OF Business Policy


choice, we long ago decided to give
our attention to local matters. Fol-
lowing this policy We endeavor to
publish. SO far as possible every
thing obtainable about Somerset
County people and communities. And
so. If the news Is about something
that happened to a citizen of this
county; or something which was done
or caused by him; or II 1t concerns
in similar way someone who for
merly lived here; or If it is an event
which happended or Is going to hap
pen in some Somerset County com
munity, we are always glad to have
IT submitted for publication. This
policy is very generally approved by
our readers, but now and then, some
one wonders why the sinking of the
Luisitania, the signing of the arms
tice. death of Roosevelt and other
events of worldwide importance,
pass unnoticed so far as our columns
are concerned. We can only say that
were We to handle news of that kind
we should have to omit items of a
purely local character; and by every
test. and by the best judgments We
have been able TO bring to bear, local
items are by all means of the most
interest to our readers. You can
think OF that part of the Independent
Reporter which is the most interest
ing to you, and then make up your
mind whether you would be willing
to have 1t omitted to make room for
news about Roosevelt and the Luisi-
tania Also ask yourself if you would
be willing to have news of your ac-
quaintances or of interest to you left
out to make room for essays, papers,
etc, on purely abstract subjects. In
view of the fact, that. before our pa
per reaches YOU. you would have
heard of events like the Luisitania
disaster and the death of Roosevelt
from other sources; and in view OF
the fact that; lectures. essays, and
discussions fill to overlooking, the
monthly and weekly magazines, and,
more or less the daily papers. we are
quite sure you will not wish space
in our paper devoted to them TO the
exclusion of your favorite local col
umn
As to manus cripts, essays, literary
productions. etc. produced by som
erset County people, 1t may BE- that
they would possess some local in
terest. This is increased, OF course,
il they are read or delivered as part
of a program OF any meeting held in
Somerset County We can sometimes
use them, but if we have a choice be-
tween them and local news items, il
Is always the local news that gets the
preference, for the reason already re-
ferred to. 1t should be understood
the dailies tri-we eklies and monthlies
can excel us in the preparation and
publication of world national and
scientific and general subjects. No
paper however, of any description,
can equal us in the publication of
purely local news matter. We prefer
to do the Job that we can do best and
this Is another reason why the To-
| cal news gets the preference in our
columns.
We ought to mention here. COM
municationS and discussions on pure
! ly local questions. If they are exclus-
lively local. and If they would inter
est any considerable number Of citi-
zens in Somerset County entirely
WITHOUT interest TO people else
where, they would be proper matter
for US to publish. This is important
because TO answer our best purposes
we ought to allow any Somerset
County citizen to make public his
ideas on local issues through our col
umns. While this material may moi
be so widely read or with as much IN
terest as the local news, We consider
it distinctly helpful In a local way
and regard 1t as our duty to give Il
space.
And now, If you are going on
Journey, or have just returned, i
you expect guest, or If sone on'
has just departed from your home
IL you have bought horse or sold
COW; if you are planning TO chang
your business, occupation, or resi-
dence: il there is TO be a wedding Il
the family; if daughter or othe
relative is going away to school.
you are among those planning som
public meeting or entertainment.
you know of any change in the pla
of some church or society; or If yo
know of these things which are har
pening, have happened, or are like
to happen to other people, or cor
Germ any Somerset County commuu
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