The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-09
OBSERVATIONS INSPIRED BY A
 NEWSPAPER CENSOR


 The editor of The Age-Herald has received the following letter from Mr. Landers sevier, president of the Alabama Manufacturers association. It is written in the lucid epistolary style and in the helpful spirit for which Mir. Sevier is noted. The subject is "Consistencye The letter:
 On the subject matter of this letter I was im- pressed with editorial appearing in the columns of The Age-Herald a few days since giving the views of your editorial writer as to "knocbers" and the effect that they have communities; and it is hard to realize with policy as advo- cated that would have its front page three columns such the first three columns of your issue of June 2.
 First, Mir. Brisbane's knock on the United States supreme courts decision in the case styled Coronado Coal company United Mine Workers of America It Is seldom that read Mr Bris- bane's writings. but I have heard many un- favorable comments from your subscribers who apparently do read them to why The Age-Herald would be subscriber and print that which like Mir. Brisbane has to which, generally speaking. Is socialistic in it's tendencies.
 Second. Harrison Attacks Senator Lippett in Tariff Speech" Headline attracted to that which may be considered a knock.
 Third Shropshire Raps Blue Laws Before Civtan Conclave"
 In issue of paper. through it's edl- torial policy. 1t attempts to discourage knocking, the effect Is not good. On the front page of your of the 7th you publish knocks by one of the editorial writers of the country and through headlines you bring to the public's attention the knocks of others One wonders at the consistency of the policy such advocate
 Yours truly. L. SEWER.
 If everyone were constituted as MT. Sevier is, Robbie" Burns would not have yearned for the gift to see ourselves as others see us. There would be no lack of self-appointed critics to exacting standards.
 The Age-Herald regrets that MT. Sevier is supposed to devote practically all of his vald- able time to the Alabama Manufacturers association. Possibly, if he were not thus engaged he might acquire a newspaper some- where in Alabama and dim the luster of the Northcliffes, the Bennetts, the Wattersons, the Hearsts, the Munseys and few others who are believed to have done fairly well in jour nalism.
 If the shortcomings of the press tax Mir starts paper of his own to lead the rank and file of newspaper workers toward the light, The Age-Herald will gladly lend whatever as- sistance Is in it's power. In the meantime it felicitates Mir. Sevier on his own particular brand of consistency. While his complaints have been numerous, The Age-Herald has yet to hear of his writing letter of commenda- tion for anything published in this newspaper
 
 Woe to MT. Brisbane, struggling along on mere pittance, you might say, who has incurred the displeasure of the president of the Ala bama Manufacturers' association! Woe to the Associated Press for sending dispatches of fensive to the "Pollyanna" soul of gentleman who, it appears, never Knocks" And woe to The Age-Herald for trying to print the news because it Is news, but lacking the guiding hand of such master journalist, falls pros trate under the weight of his disapprovall If we dared, we might point out to Mr. Se- vier that the news in a reputable newspaper is never cut out to fit the editorial policy; but of course he knows that as well as we do. We might even go bit further and say that
 
 ions and not the opinions of The Age-Herald, but we are sure that Mir. >Sevier is unlike one of our prominent suffragettes who calls every article printed in newspaper an editorial" The Age-Herald receives MT. Sevier's casti- gation with meekness and humility. Many well-meaning citizen who doesn't know the difference between matrix and three-em dash thinks he knows how to run newspaper and insists on telling an editor how to conduct his business. MT. Sevier is not of this type. At least, we hope not
 Perhaps, some day, The Age Herald will be able to do something, no matter how small and inconsequential, that will win MT. Sevier's praise. With this hope held before us as a beacon we shall continue to "carry on," real izing, as everyone must do that MT. Sevier properly belongs, not to the Alabama Manu- facturers' association, but to the arduous and under-manned profession of journalism.