The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1948-05-13
Gue41 G&AoMol
Whot Kind OF Citizen Are You?
BY Mary Cain, Publisher, The Summit Sun

always uppermost in ones mind the question, What shall !
write about? What is the most challenging thing | can say? What
is the most important thing l can write about?
The list of important things to write about is staggering.
The whole world seems to be in a shocking state and there , is so .
United Nations, the Marshall Plan, Military CONSUMPTION, Fede-
own door, the question of States Rights, the repeal of prohibition,
jury service for women. The list is endless. One could write on
and on about the cancers in our world today.
But what would be the use of a guest editors trying to
compress into any one editorial a challenging message on any one
of these subjects? You the people of Holmes County have in Hazel
Brannon a courageous young editor who never hesitates to take
a stand on any issue that confronts her community, county,
state or nation. You are fortunate that she is not na~mby-pamby.
You always know where she stands. But editing a paper is not a
one-woman task. 1t is one that belongs to ones entire family of
readers.
In short, here is the most challenging thing that could be
said to any group of readers of a newspaper anywhere: 1t is ut.
whether you agree with her or not. She speaks as an individual
same right to assume a logical position and ask for space in the
columns OF your paper if you have something worth saying.
And that is why this editorial is titled: What kind of
citizen are you"
Are you the kind, man or woman, who talks for home or
neighbours consumption, condemning the idea of military con-
scripion? What good does it do? Perhaps you and your neghbor
are agreed that it is wrong. But who can help to right the wrong?
Only the men who represent you in Washington. And when you
ton, you can say you are truly interested in the nations wel-be-
paper . =, Your dara editor tor', can m'' do = a 'I much Z better Job fighting q ynqf for tn the
things you want or opposing those you are opposed to, if she
entirely different angle in your thinking to the one your editor
has. But a good editor is always open-minded and eager to know
the opinions of all his readers.
How do you feel about the Marshall Plan? Do you think
it is right for this nation to be robbed of its own way o. life
ouS SnSSooINc oAatio III u 1HdC we Inlay UuS III
nations not to be Communists? Did it work before? This is not
h is sans' pe ems w Wants h to h speh su + elan p peaole' b x0 Sox xn fT f nny
base must our humanitariansm lead us? To the point of national
destruction?
hear you say, "oh, I'm behind Governor Wright one hundred per-
eentf we MN Mo Savs 40 be som eth g. When hen you st read, read these lines mes a
citizens of America, from many, many states, all of whom were
your presence at meetings, wearing a States Rights button,
sistanee to the program q if if YOU are nea genuinely sui eli ' Interested I'M seeing ns
our republic preserved. It is not merely the South that is involved
the world. ANN' 'N' '''ss N~ iOpe -
How do you feel about federal aid for education? It should
not be necessary to discuss this matter here. Your editor recently
reprinted an editorial from the trenchant pen of Samuel Pettin-
gill which showed the fallacy of government laid" for ANYTHING
lions had just released figures showing how much money Uncle
to good advantage.
For instance, here in Mississippi Uncle Sans annual take
is $1l5,ooooOo while we spend only $65,oo 900 on our own state
out of our state than we spend here. What couldn't we do with
that sum, would we be crying for federal aid for education? Then
isn't it the part Of wisdom to stop asking for federal aid and try
the federal government, where it is being, in so many cases, sad
ly misued? OF course, the writer happens to be one of those per
worst thing in all the world and wants no part of federal aid for
and Representatives or, failing that, a letter to your editor?
How do you feel about conditions in your county, your home
town. = ba Your editor GGo fought a battle against lawlessness almost
work; or maybe you didn't appreciate it and thought her mis-
if you had written a letter to the editor, setting forth your views,
pro or con, at that time. She fearlessly said what she thought,
and was prepared to stand on the consequences of her fortnight
position. Did you?
DR.. M Rowland, at one time editor of the Alabama Chris
tan Advocate. once said that an editor ought to be a chameleon
that he must be able to adjust himself to all conditions and take
the colorlngs OF all occasions. For he cannot keep his own nation
al color ana please many people. If he has convictions that do not
SUIT some they turn their leader on him and his work. If he is
neutral, he is a coward. If he is on the other side from the leader,
he is a nut. -4
DR.. Rowland was right. A conscientious editor who works
at his JOB is an asset to any community, whether you, gentle
reader, agree with him or not. But you, too, have an obligation
to your community, to your state, your nation and, indeed the
world. How can you remain silent if you have an opinion that is
n worth hnarinu2 lie ~ haua q oxuintia L.