The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-06-16
THE CALL OF THE PRESS IN
THE MOUNTAINS"

Robert Smallwood, Editor OF the
Beattyville Enterprise, was one Of
the Alumni speakers at the Vocation
al banquet last week. His subject,
"The Call Of the Press in the Noun
tains," is a timely one for discussion,
and was well presented. We are
glad to give it space in our columns
for the benefit Of our readers.
The call Of the press in the noun
tains is a subject fit for the deepest
of our BEST Minds" and the most
fluent Of our silver-tongued orators
for thru my own observation and
from what old timers have told me,
find il to be true, That the prog
ress of a community is largely re-
flected by the local newspaper" In
community where the local sheet
is progressive, the merchants are pro-
gressive and the progress extends
thruout the territory covered by this
paper. Then, for this reason we need
printers in our mountains with a
vision of what conditions might be,
rather than those who will look on the
present as good enough or with little
or no hope for better things in the
future. We want men and women
who will look on their newspapers as
it were a cloud by day and pillar
of fire by night to the community
they are serving. This kind of man
will strive to make his newspaper an
institution whose value it would be
impossible to estimate.
There is no enterprise that does so
much for the corporation or the in
dividual citizen as the local news
paper in the hands Of the proper man
1t stands opposed to the knocker, the
kicker, the fanatic, and the drones
It stands for action as against dry
rot. 1t stands for progress as
against stagnation. It is ever ready
to combat the schemes of visionaries
and as ready to aid the constructive
plans of the wise and level-headeo
citizens. 1t is a big factor for the
upbuilding Of the community.
As yet, the country press has moi
come into its own in our mountains
because it is not appreciated to the
extent Of it's full value by the people
at large. Yet, when battles are tc
be fought for town OF county, rust
is made to the newspaper office. tt
find the loyal editor always ready fol
the fray, and frequently without hop'
Of reward. Many other enterprises
are encouraged by a bonus, but rare
ly is a newspaper offered any sucl
help and still more often not givei
the support that it is entitled to
but this Is all the more reason tha
we should have wide-awake men a
the helm of our mountain news
papers, men with high ideals and
love for the work, who by their per
severance and example of industr.
will win success for their communit,
in spite Of some lack Of cooperation
on the part Of a few individuals, o
even the apathy Of the bulk Of tn
people. Men, who will in time edu
cate their readers into the knowledg
that the local newspaper is reail,
the most important business enter
prise Of the community.
To the best OF my information
there are seven of our mountain
counties that have no newspapers
they are Jackson, Clay. Wolfe, Meni
fee, Elliott. Martin and Knott. Il
each Of these counties there Is a goo
field; and an editor who knows tn
people Of the mountains and Is in ful
sympathy with their aspirations,
he Is intelligent. would become thei
natural leader toward a larger life
The mission Of the ministry and o
the teacher could be no moro exslte'
In these counties, or any other count!