South Bend news-times., 1921-05-27


the middle west. I was continually
hearing the name OF one man. AZ
a crossroads settlement I heard him
quoted on the national political cam
paign. In a little township I over
heard two farmers discussing MS
opinion on the advantages Of a com
munity canning and drying plant Al
a meeting Of a fruit growers coop
erative society 1 heard one speaker
ask, Has Jim Ingalls, ever had any
thing TO say on the question:
Later 1 met modest young Jim
ingalls," and got his story Five
years earlier. he had been an over
worked reporter on big city daily.
His work did not seem TO be getting
him anywhere. There were half
fdozen men ahead Of him in the line
for promotion, and the best that he
could hope for was an assistant ed
itorship in about 10 years.
When his two weeks vacation
period rolled around, he made a
trip through the rural districts Of his
state. He did not return 10 the city.
/ For in a little town he found the
subject OF many day Dreams run
| down country newspaper for sale.
And into it he put every cent that
+ he had managed 10 scrape together
on his city job.
The w!seacres Of the town shook
their heads sadly when they heard
/ of the papers sale. For it had al
ready passed through half a dozen
! hands. 1t was a wreck. and II look
ed the part. II was printed with al
most every conceivable style Of type,
/ from Jensen 70 Black Gothic. The
! inside pages were filed with anti
/ quated jokes. recipes and puzzles,
syndicated TO hundreds Of similar
papers all over the country.
1t was out of touch with the COM
munity One Of the big daylies in the
north published, every Saturday, al
most as much news Of the commun-
4 ity as it could manage 70 scrape up.
IL has also been used as the organ
Of a political party. Bitterly par
tisan, it had made enemies Of half
! the community.
Bringing Dead Paper 10 Life.
Not a very promising baby" you
say. But Jim ingalls, has a vision of
possibilities. The town was in the
/ heart OF a prosperous farming re-
giOn. Most Of the farmers had a big
( city daily delivered at their gates.
| There was a growing community
spirit. Jim saw the need for a real
I community newspaper.
The first thing he did was 10 i'm
! prove the appearance Of the paper
by throwing out the fancy types.
| Then he toured the county, and
! created a chain Of correspondents.
Railroad agents, school teachers,
doctors. lodge secretaries, Justices
Of the peace-everyOne in a position
to gather news was supplied with
/ stationery, and given free subscrip-
tions. There were few who did not
consider it a privilege TO send in
news items.
He gave up foreign news entirely.
leaving this TO the city dailies. His
news policy has always been one OF
intensive reporting of the affairs of
town and county His correspondents
/ pour in 10 him every week a steady
/ stream Of gossip and chitchat of
every hamlet and crossroads village.
If Farmer POrter's wife holds a pie
! social, she knows where she will
find a full account OF it. and her
guests know where they can find their
names in all the glory of print
Farmer Lawler and his neighbors
are interested in the hay. grain and
forage reports from upstate. They
look in Jim's paper for them. He
keeps close tabs on the develop
ments at the county experimental
farm, and nothing get by him at the
meeting Of the county agricultural
societies.
The papers circulation is now
nearly four times what it was when
he took II over, and it is recognized
as a valuable advertising medium
Jim no longer has TO worry over his
income. But he has made more OF
his paper than mere chatterbox OF
the cOunty's gossip.
In frame over his desk is a
quotation from Bryant:
The press, important as is its
office. is but the servant Of the
human intellect, and it's minis
try is for good or evil, accord
ing 70 the character Of those
who direct it. The press is a
mill which grinds all that is put
into its hopper. Fill the hopper
with poisoned grain. and Il will
grind it 10 meal but there is
death in the bread"
There is no buster about Jim, and
he has never been guilty OF q
pompous statement But he realizes
that. in his little newspaper. he has
a powerful tool And he uses It tC
encourage the dwellers OF the county
TO carry out Improvements which
will add 10 the comfort OF all. anC
make every town a better place II
|. which 10 live and bring up children
The king Maker
You have read in your histories o.
? the powers behind the throne
the men who have preferred to b'
king makers rather than hold dowr
the job Of king. That IS Jim's atti
, tude toward the affairs OF his coun
: ty. He has never been a candidat,
for public office. He is absolutel,
, independent in politics. But he il
I recognized as a power. Woe 20 IN,
slick politician who tries 10 pu
something over on the people OF tn
county Ii isn't long before JIM
. little sheet is hurting broadsides int,
his hold.
/ Several towns in the county Ia,
. no water and sewer systems. jim
, paper took the lead in urging bon,
o. issues for municipal water works. o
course there were howls from a grea
3 many people. Small towns are yer.
: often held back by those who know
= how 20 work and accumulate. bu
p who do not know how 20 live. Jim