The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-03
THE BUSINESS OF BEING AN EDITOR

What does an editor do when he has
no idea that he desires to express?
There are two solutions, one to clip
something that some other editor wrote and
pour copious praise upon the thoughts ex-
pressed the other, to do what this editor is
doing and write about the business of edi-
tCrializiag.
y As~editor of The Citizen we have no
pet theories to put over. Unless the reasons
carry conviction to the reader, we
prefer for the individual to disagree with
what ne reads. No editor, worth his salt,
cares two boots for ignorant applause al
though all writer's appreciate intelligent APP
prevail
There are always number of matters
that could be discussed in the editorial col
umns. Some of them not worth the bother.
Others would lead to fruitless palaver.
Then, there is always the obvious praise
that can be handled in hooray style and lib
orally applied Unfortunately to anything
and anybody.
This latter system appeals to many ed
itors. 1t tends to make them popular, es-
pecially with the small fry they pat on the
back It is safe because everybody likes
praise, even in print, just as nobody likes
criticism, especially in print. ~
= The editor has his problems There
IL, "a
datiCn but, being one in group, they are
rarely singled out because of the odious
comparison that Immediately attracts at
-entlon to those ignored.
Then any smart editor can always get
a hand by praising the preachers, teachers,
and similar professionals. If he will only
howl a bit about their sacrificial lives, he
will go over big, even if his conscience
tWingeS tWinge or two when he mentally
notes some of those who take the bows.
sure fit it trade-at-home none
logue, rather slyly intimating that any pur-
chaser who does not give local merchants
all the trade is fit for immediate Danish
ment. AS a general rule, of course, every
sensible person knows the value of support
ing home town industries and merchants
but, just occasionally, there are individu-
ais who take advantage of this idea to tap
the trade for more than it should bear.
A blurb about the patriotic virtues of
the men and women who launched this ma
ton is a good shot Few of the readers
know much about history anyway and most
of what they know is the bromide stuff that
is retailed to the fifth grade mind. lie you
go beyond this, and begin to question the
virtues of the venerated elders, you are
delving into Improbable dirt.
With a war on, you can ring the bell
every day by telling how much better Am
erican soldiers and sailors are, when COM
pared with our enemies, or even our Allies
BY praising every action that sticks>a pin
in the enemy hide and ignoring the knife
wounds that Uncle Sam gets in return, you
will be on the head.
Rarely does any editor get anywhere,
in the line of patriotism, by attempting to
suggest that there is something wrong with
the past or present of the great and glorious
republic. Even crooked business and rotten
politicians have their friends and pap-suck-
ers. who take it out on the editor.
Well, we could go on, for long time,
with this stuff, but we don't need any more
copy to fill up our columns, and so, we'll call
it a day.
MO INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC