The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-08-27
TAKES MORE THAN
NERVE TO PRINT Il.

A fellow once remarked that the
editor of a city paper was ENTER
prising" all right but he lacks the
nerve to say the things he ought to
say
The gentleman may have been right
then again he may have been all
wrong. Lacking personal knowl-
edge of the character OF the editor
under discussion 1t is more than
likely he was wrong. But his remark
In all likelihood was correct--even
though ananomaly Is created-it be-
ing hard to explain how the editor
could not lack the nerve to say the
things that ought to be said, and then
again admit that he was SO lacking.
But the latter condition Is entirely
possible in view of the fact that In
order to say things in a newspaper
one must have an even greater de-
gree of certainty of roof available
than is produced In a court OF law.
One cannot say the things he would
like to say In public print unless he is
prepared to prove them upon being
questioned. 1t is much easier to say
things about the other fellow by word
of mouth and get away with 1t than
IL is to make remarks through the
medium OF news ink and type. When
an individual says something about
his neighbor the latter is more apt to
remark something about what tn
hell do carer" and let 1t go at that,
but let the editor say something that
Is untrue and the same fellow will
not lie down 80 easily. II 1t be the
truth In ten cases out of like num-
Der he will conclude that discretion
is the better part of valor. but let 1t
SAVIOR OF falsity and there is liable to
be a new editor In charge after the
time allowed by law has taken its
course.
Many people think things exist
when they really know nothing about
II. For instance-you often hear the
remark that SO and so Is grating
upon the public funds. That remark
is often followed by one from Wig
orous bystander who inquiries why
tie newspapers don't get after him.
As a matter of fact probably the
newspapers OF the community have
been wondering for some time just
how they can get the proof to go
after him." but the man under scru-
tiny has been SO clever that none OF
his schemes chow though the net
work of concealmeEt which he has
spent month. even years. r. perfec:ing
Then again the subject of the criti-
cism may rot be grating at all-and
yet the editor is publicly denounced
because he hasn't the nerve to expose
something of which he has no proof.
or In the second case. doesn't exist.
1t would take nerve for an average
man to walk up to Jack Dempsey and
hit him in the jaw. because an aver
age man knows before he starts that
Jack Dempsey Is his superior and
will likely knock him into a state OF
coma bordering upon Republican In
telligence--but man who Is the
equal of Jack Dempsey in every way
and knows II does not require so
much nerve for throwing down the
gauntlet. 1t all depends upon how
you are equipped-and It is the same
with the editor. II he is without the
unfailing backing of proof he hasn't
the nerve-but II he has the facts the
average editor is not afraid to stir
the fire.
The newspapers Of community
occupy a quasi-public position. Citi-
zens look to them for knowledge upon
which to base movements for their
own protection. A community can be
nicely sandbagged. robbed and even
murdered in a figurative sense. IL
its newspapers are afraid to expose
the things that endanger It's economic
welfare But in criticizing the news
paper editor because he hasn't the
nerve to say things che ought to say"
the individual citizen must remember
that newspaper criticism is not like
Gossip--it must be substantiated by
proof-and no conscientious news
paper editor is going to allow his
pages TO be used for plain and simple
scandal unfounded in fact. One more
thlng-an indiyidus; who possesses