The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-07-21
THREE AND. A HALF
YEARS IN MOSCOW
RETIRING EDITOR TELLS OF THE
TIME SPENT In THIS SPLEN-
DID COMMUNITY

1 | am leaving MOSCOW, but not with
out regrets, for | have a number of
friends here, of whose friendship and
confidence | am proud. l have spent
three and half years at the editorial
desk of The Daily Star-Mirror and
the Weekly Idaho Post and have en-
joyed the work. l am leaving for a
bigger, broader field, and for work
that | thoroughly enjoy have
worked hard in Moscow and have
tried to give the readers of these two
good papers news and editorial ser
vice that was worthy of the splendid
patronage the papers received
Whether l succeeded or failed, leave
to the readers. Those who have never
tried to put over" anything, will, |
believe, agree that 1 have succeeded
fairly well. Those who had hoped to
use the paper for personal ends will
agree, unanimously, that I have failed.
In February, 1918, l was at Colfax,
having just completed assignments
for the Oregon Farmer, in Oregon and
the Idaho Farmer in Idaho. l was
writing for several magazines and
newspapers but not regularly en-
ployed. My old tried and true friend,
Ross Sherfey, telephoned to me and
look over the field here. Mr. Cum
ningham was leaving and l was offer
ed the position of editor of The Star
Mirror, of which l.. F. Parsons was
publisher. | took the position, eX-
pecting to remain only until another
man could be found to take the place
as | had other offers, from fl
nancial standpoint, were better than
this one.
Then came the consolidation of the
offices of the Star-Mirror and The
Idaho Post and placing the concern
on a solid basis financially, with
practical newspaper publisher at the
head and with ample capital to make
a real newspaper, something the town
needed My relations with Mr. Lam
phere, the publisher, were always
pleasant, cordial and harmonious. l
regret to leave his employ, and only
the fact that there is a bigger and
brighter future before me in the field
| am to occupy, induced me to make
the change.
The building up of the newspaper
business in Moscow was not without
many difficulties, trial and tribula-
tions. Moscow had been a newspaper
There were many fac
tions here and various factions had
had newspapers as the factional or
gan. There was constant fighting
and illfeeling. Men had been accus-
,omed to go to the newspaper and 6
nave it fight their battles and abuse
others who were members of other
actions. No intelligent person needs
o be told that such conditions are '
lot conducive to the up-building of a
a town or community
Mr.. Lamphere and / agreed that nei- +
her paper should be used as a pOlit- r
cal, personal or factional organ and
,r political party, and would always
boost" for Moscow, the University Of O
daho, Latah county, and the Pan t.
landle of Idaho. How well we sue O
eeded | leave to the files of the il
aper and am sure no one will ever Ii
ind any thing in any issue of either tt
{ these papers that was deroga- il
ory to Moscow or any respectable "
itizen or interest.
Such a policy naturally met with p
litter opposition by those who had d
cen accustomed to using the news a
aper to air their personal griev-
noes, real or fancied, and it took n
ime and patience to convince them W
hat such a course was the best. A Il
leeting of the publishers of all La h
III county newspapers was called and p
n agreement entered into by which ci
Il agreed to not throw rocks" at n
ny town, community or citizen of gt
atah county. That agreement has w
cen kept religiously. Before itwas !;
lade nearly every paper in Latah =
ounty was fighting Moscow and too al
-equently the papers of Moscow al
ought other towns. er
Most of the business men Of Mos b.
)w every man who was unselfishly
wing to improve general conditions, ns
as endorsed the policy pursued 1t sc
IS been opposed only by those who
anted TO use tie news napers for per- ~,
NAL or selfish PURPOSES. We have =,
ade friends and we are proud of these IL
lends. The papers have had loyal er
lnnor+ and have tried to deserve it. Ov