The diamond drill., 1921-10-29


munity not from any selfish angle, but
from the broader viewpoint of ma.
tional good.
Some three or four months ago
there wns before Congress a bill on
which the press of the country was
divided. Tie magazines. the big ma
tIonal weeklies, the farm press and
the metropolitan daily papers were on
one side ana the country newspapers
were Oh the other side. The passage
Of the BIN would mean creating an OF
portuuity for a greater Capitalization
Of the merchandising OF the nation IN
few large elites with a consequent
injury % the small cities and towns.
and 20 the people 81 these cities and
towns and the farms surrounding
them. The country press fought for
the defe.Sk OF the bill, and In the end
the members of the committee IN
whose hands the fate OF the bill rested
listened TO the country press because
they realized that the welfare OF these
country communities represented the
best interests OF the nation as
whole, and the bill was killed.
During our participation In the
World war the country press stood
stanchly and unseihshiy back of the
nation. II did nothing TO create dis
sension among the people during the
time Of emergency. but II did carry TO
Its readers a continuous message OF
patriotism and national unity. In each
community II wiped away much OF
factional lines, and created an atnos-
lphere OF intense Americanisrn that
welded tho American people together
regar1Iess OF plnde Of birth or an
cestry.
Value Noa Always undcrstood.
But the people OF tho cities do not
always understand the value OF the
country press. With the Increased de-
mand for war supplies there came a
demand for a decrease In the con-
sumption OF the ordinary needs OF
peace time. Among the things the
consumption Of which must be cut
was paper city man was at the
head OF the department that regulated
the use OF paper, and he felt IL ad-
visable 10 so limit the amount Of pa
per available for the country press as
10 seriously cripple all Of these pa
pers, and 10 have entirely closed many
OF them. IL was the privilege OF the
writer 10 present the case OF the coun-
try press TO this man, and II did not
take him long 10 see that the govern
meht could not afford to in any con-
siderable degree cripple an institution
that represented so much OF national
good as did these country newspa-
pers.
Country Presa Deserves Well.
The country press deserves we'll OF
the people Of the nation, and especial
ly or the people OF the country com
munities Individually these papers
may not be large In size as compared
with the city papers. but quantity IL
not the measure Of their value. They
are worth both directly and indirect
ly fur more than their subscription
price. For that price they bring TO
you each week the news OF your
friends and acqualntances To those
who have left the country home TO go
either to the city or 10 some other
country home, the country newspaper
Is n welcome weekly letter that keeps
them I'm touch with friends and for
mer associates. To those at home IL
cnrries the news OF their friends and
neIghbors. II records the births and
deaths. the marriages, the comings
and goings OF those In whom you are
II furnishes the medium
Of publicity through which work for a
better and stronger community Is
II voices the consensus
Of opinion OF the community 10 the |
IN the halls Of the |
state and national legislators II is
the paper Of. for and by the people
OF the villages, the towns and tho
small cities.
No country paper worthy Of the
name ever seeks the support OF the
people Of It's community on any other
ground than that Of giving more than
full value for all that IL receives. You
aid yourself, your community. your.
state and the nation when you support /
and read your own eHome Town
pororu