The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-24
A Year Ago and Today.

A year ago today the following was printed
on the first page Of The Argus.
I'm announcing the purchase Of the Rock
Island Daily Union the publishers of The
Argus feel they owe the public frank and
Straightforward statement OF their policy and
purpose in the future publication of this paper.
"The Argus henceforth will be conducted
u an Independent newspaper basing it's edi-
{orial policy on what it believes to be right
and just, printing the news accurately and
fairly, without prejudice.
"The Argus, in adopting this policy, does
not repudiate its past, for it has pursued Q
consistent and honorable course for more than
three score years. But the war has exerted a
great change in the whole political as we'll as
commercial, social and national life.
\ i New conditions bring new demands and
4 we firmly and earnestly believe that the de-
Iiand Of today is for an Independent public
press, unbiased by partisan ties, ever free and
ready to state its honest convictions in the
interest of the common welfare. The trend
and tendency Of the press Of America bears
out this conception.
"A newspaper may exert tremendous in
Auence for good or evil in a community. Too
lDng has it been used as party weapon to
fstrther the interest OF one political division to
the detriment Of all others.
THE Argus recognizes that the American
form OF government requires party rule and it
relieves that there will always be at least two
Great political organizations in our body DO
litic But to say that one is wholly bad and
the others wholly good, that one is always
right and the others always wrong has ceased
" appeal, to the intelligence of the average
American.
'The Argus realizes the wider responsible
III 1t has assumed to the public and will en-
dsAvor to merit the esteem and support of its
readers in the Quad-cities and throughout the
tributary territory by giving them vigorous
clean daily newspaper in every way worthy OF
the city and the field its serves.
THE J. W. POTTER co.
Publishers"
In this announcement We pledged ourselves
70 conduct an Independent newspaper, un-
biased by partisan ties, to print the news &C.
ctrately and fairly, and to base our editorial
policy upon our conception Of right We would
mot reprint that announcement now IL we did
npt feel that We had stood by our promises,
and that we had fulfilled our pledge
No newspaper, however conducted, can
please everybody all the time. weshave not
done SO, and we do not expect to do so. but
during the year the continuous stream of VOL
uhtary commendations from readers repre-
senting all shades Of opinion and all commu-
nifty interests have so far exceeded the occa-
sipnal criticisms that we have been constantly
supported in our conviction that our position
IS wise and right
In many ways 1t has been difficult year.
The Union was purchased at time Of great
STRESS in the publishing business, due largely
10; the shortage OF newsprint paper. Papers
all over tho country were hard hit, and the
tri-city publications were no exceptions Many
days I'D the early part of the year We went to
press with our last rolls of paper. not knowing
tive would have supply with which to print
the following days editions Despite all eff
forts. it, was impossible for time to obtain
, Sufficient supply. and the size of our paper
to be reduced, much to our regret.
Another dimculty of the year has been the
)naintensnce Of our pledged policy Of indie
bcndence through . national campaign, the
beversst test that can be laid upon news
bspsr, Nsyer6alsssv -tAs-asvs has been pre-