Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-28
A JURIsT ON THE NEWSPAPER.

A JURIST ON THE NEWSPAPER.
RTODES1Y is one of the most
ava precious and most appealing of
virtues. Newspapers as rule are
modest, and this newspaper prefers
and tries to be. At times, however,
there are matters which in
volye mention or discussion of the
newspaper in which we believe there
is public interest and which are
privileged therefore without viola
ton of the bounds of modesty.
Recently Judge Eve of the Tiff
circuit, has been having some I'M
usually interesting things to say upon
good citizenship and questions of
current and intimate interest to all
South Georgians in his charges to
various grand jurles. In his last
one before the Irwin grand jury he
discussed the church, the home, the
state, the schools, the newspapers
and the highways as factors of eivi-
lization. Some of these observa-
tons, particularly concerning the
divorce evil, the home and other mat
tiers, were published in this paper
last Saturday. What he had to say
regarding the newspapers is so I'M
usual for one not on the inside OF
the publishing business and not ia
miliar with the influences, the nao-
tives, hopes and ambitions of the
community newspapers, that we be-
lieve its publication here will prove
of general interest. We are indebt-
ed to the Triton Gazette for this part
of his talk, which follows:
| wonder how many people are
truly grateful for sunshine, fresh
air and the seasons with their chang
ing beauties and varying benefits?
Few! How many really understand
and fully appreciate the civilizing,
stimulating and generally beneficial
effects of the newspapers? Few!
Like the sunshine and the rain and
the changing seasons the newspapers
shower upon the community in such
liberal and impartial ways their mani
fold blessings that not many of us
really understand and appreciate
them. Virtually all of US when
paying for our papers do so under
the full conviction that a deed of
charity has been done and the inn
mediate and pressing needs of an
lmpecunlous, if not altogether de-
serving citizen have been momen-
tarily relieved.) A county without
a newspaper IS county without
main spring of civic action. A coun-
ty without a newspaper is a county
far behind III the procession of civ
lllzatlon. A county without news
paper is county lacking in one of
the great educational forces-in
fact, the chances are that it is no
county at all Get the notion out
of your head that in patronizing your
county paper you are getting moth
ing for something.
When you have subscribed for the
paper and paid the price in advance:
when you have done all of the ad-
vertlsing your business will carry ::
when you have supplied the editor
with all of the news that has come
to you and when you have stood
back OF him with all of your personal
power and influence in the campaigns
he is Waging for the good of the
community, You are dealing Justly
with the paper, the county and your
self. 1t is not necessary that you be in
love with those who are running the
paper in order to do this. You may
not like the editor; he may
not like you; possibly you are both
entirely justified in entertaining I'M
favorable opinions of each other,
personally; this is not the question.
You have something in common :;
you have in common the advance
ment, the prosperity of the town and
county in which you both live; you
have in common the interests Of the
coming generation; your children
and his children. They will inherit
The all that both of you build, finan-
cially, edueationally or in a moral
way. Get back of your paper and
SHoNe IL lol@dIa, Heip make II the
best one in the state. You may
do this and have only selfish end
in view--the building of bigger and
better town and county for your
self and your children to live in.
| meet q great many men who
at some time have become deeply
offended as result of something
the editor has printed in his paper.
Not necessarily a personal criticism
but just anything from a condemna-
tion of prunes as diet to an init
mation that some political idol is not
what he should be. If the editor
says something you don't like, write
him back. Write an open letter.
AS my friend DR.. burden says: Get
him down before the blow-pipe of
your righteous INDICATION and incin-
crate him. Consume him in the blue
flame of your wrath" Then mail it
to him for publication. Thus you
will be doubiy avenged. He must