Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-08-19
Here And
There

hu"OCAS VI AOAnS VIM now SASob
pride in the extent of their mem
cries. Indeed some of them can run
back through the years to the time
when they were four year old mar
vels. l have listened to many in
triguing tales of things they did in
those distant but well remembered
years of immaturity. Personally l
have not been greatly impressed for
l have never been able to understand
how they could recall the things
they do with such accuracy, nor
have l been able to convince myself
that the dOings of four year Olds
are worth the effort required to
keep them in memory granted
that they may possibly be truly re-
eOrded-and that, believe me, is
some grant.
But a newspaper that has lived
to reach the age of four years is
something else again. By that time
it has reached a state of "innocuous
desuetude" where it makes little
difference if it lives or dies or it
has overcome the growing pains of
youth and has grown to maturity
where it has become a recognized
institution and a factor in COM
munity development where it must
be reckoned with.
am thinking now of the Min
neapolis Spokesman and st. Paul
Recorder which celebrates with
this issue their fourth birthday.
How wildly 1 recall every incl
dent of those tempestuous years!
The publisher of these papers
had had a considerable journalistic
experience. 1t had left him deeply
dissatisfied with its lack of accom-
plishment; a lack due chiefly to re-
strictions to individual initiative.
He cOnfided to me and others that
he felt the time had been reached
when it was the part of wisdom to
cut the "GOrdian knot" and reach
out for himself and establish the
kind of publication the Twin City
community deserved.
He believed he had the proper
ideas and we both knew he had the
necessary experience. For knowing
what I did of newspaper business
l took it for granted that he had
secured a thousand or so dollars
with which to launch his expert
ment. 1 discovered later that his
capital was a very little money, a
imitless ambition, a great faith in
public reaction and a supply of in
ternal fortitude that for me has
been the most marvellous ingredient
of this iconoclastic enterprise. By
the time this knowledge had been
absorbed the six page st. Paul and
Minneapolis papers had be e n
launched and it was a case of do
or die.
From the outset the public was
pleased and generously gave the
support and encouragement that
enabled us to do" Of course
there were some who would have
helped US to die" Their efforts
were only a spur to ambition and
is recalled 1fow only to set forth in
glowing colors the inspiration and
help received from the many who
understood and appreciated this
dynamic departure from the rut Of
former methods of news distribu
ton.
One of the stumbling blocks tt
be overcome was the fact tha'
other publications had taught thu
public to believe that Negro papers
were not worth paying for. Per
haps that was true. But we knew
that the kind of publications W,
offered were not only worth paying
for but must be paid for if tn
standard of excellence aimed TO
was to be reached and maintained
One of the most satisfying mem
cries of those hectic years is tn
manner and the speed with whicl
our friends, the public, have &C
copied this educational viewpoint
Today we point with commendabl
pride to the largest circulation
Negro journals have ever reache
in the Twin Cities, a circulation
willingly paid for and many time
without painful and embarrassin
solicitation.
One of the most difficult Of tn
many hurdles to cross was tn
lethargic attitudes of the businesse
of the two cities. NOtwithstandin
our people spend with them all {
three million dollars annually the
had become so accustomed to az
cent IL without even thinking