The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-02-08
As TO EDITORIALS
(By X. Pattenl

| have been connected With ohoW
hegan's local newspaper, in some ca
pacity, most OF the time for the past
Is years. For quite part OF that
period my work has been news ana
editorial writing For the past three
or four years | have participated very
little in the conduct OF those depart
ments, but have OF course, been IN
constant touch with them. When |
was doing that work | never had any
timidity about attempting news mat
ter. That simply required the tell
ing of local happenings in the best
style | could. So far as local news
was concerned | felt | could do IL
fairly well and that my work would
be compared with others who were
writing under similar circumstances
and perhaps would do very little or
m ho..o- .hsn | co'''d As to edi-
torials, however, always had an en-
I. ..Iuu. .eeIng. never COM
menced one without wanting to pre-
face 1t with an apology. In editorials
unless the subject Is strictly local
nne), the thoughts presented can be
and often are compared with those
printed upon similar subjects in great
er publications of the country like
the Saturday Evening Post. Golfers
and other leading magazines. Just
at present the European situation Is
In leyerybody's mind and perhaps 1t
may he truly said in everybody
heart. We are all thinking about
1t, all feel like talking about 1t and
/ own to an impulse to write an edi-
torial on that subject. l am res
trained by the thought that, 1t IS re-
ceiying the attention of editorial writ
,ers in the great publications already
mentioned who are paid at the rates
of from three hundred to two thou
sand dollars week and who have
tho capabilities to justify salaries OF
that kind. They are not only men
especially gifted in that work and fit
ted by years Of training and research
for the journalistic profession, but
they can command If necessary the
aid of trained assistants, have at hand
complete Libraries of information and
do their writing under the most favor
able circumstances free from other
cares and distracting Interruptions.
More than that they know what they
write will be READ by from TWO to
twenty million people and that thot
itself is wonderful stimulus to sue
cessful endeavor. When ] ponder on
these things | come to conclusion
that editorial writing on worldwide
and national topics Is not my job aud
that it would be presuming for me
TO take zip space or ask anybodys
attention for anything | might get to-
getller on questions of that ch lracter.
The same reasoning applies with
somewhat the same force about ques-
tons pertaining to our state. altho
a local man might have little bet
ter courage to discuss them.
In purely local matters a man OF
even moderate ability might feel a
little more confident because OF course
the daily papers and magazines do
not concern themselves with them.
Even with these. however, there are
difficulties not at first fOreseen. Many
things in local affairs can be better
corrected by an interview with par
ties concerned than by an editorial.
TO illustrate let us say that some
citizen calls my attention to the fact
that there Is an unoccupied store on
Water street and that the snow and
ice are allowed to accumulate on the
side walk to the discomfort and dan
ger OF pedestrians. 1t is suggested
that an editorial be printed discussing
the subject thinking thereby that the
owner of the building may be stimulat-
ed to care for the sidewalk in front
OF the property The subject pre-
scented is a desirable one from news
paper standpoint 1t would be read
with indignation and perhaps anger
by the property holder In question,
with deep interest by all his acquain-
tances and would be of general inter
est to almost everyone. The brief
decentralization however, would indi-
cate that the first thing to do would
be to make certain whose duty it is
to care for the sidewalk in question.
In doing this we are sure to find that
the owner will attend to his property
on, it being the duty of the town, the
municipal officers will see that the
walk is kept clear The result is
perfectly all right, but you will note
tffdt the DOttOtil idilS Out VI tuc uiue-
ter so far as II being a subject for
an editorial is concerned.
There are, many excellent subjects
for editorial comment that disappear
in the same way and onght to. To
take up such a question in public
print before investigating and making
a reasonable effort at its correction.
is not only bad newspaper policy but
bad ethics.
After excluding world, national and
state subjects however from editorial
discussion and granting the validity
of the above reasoning as to nom
availability of certain subjects even
though purely local there still remains
some things which could be taken up
by country weekly to the interest
and benefit of its readers and this
should certainly be done. | am just
now making high resolve that |
will devote the necessary attention to
these matters in the future and the
coming weeks will show whether or
not, have the persistence to carry
ont this resolution. In the meantime
the public can aid by suggesting local
subjects for editorial discussion.