The Potters Herald

TRUTHS PONDERED WHILE
Riding at Anchor
MR. MODESTUS
ASKING YOUR PARDON
THE PUBLIC BE DAMNED"
OPINIONS FOR SALE
THE THINKING APPARATUS

Pardon—
Mr. Newspaper Publisher

Of course, you are only interested—
When something affects your finance
or circulation

Which may justify stopping you for
a moment—

While we speak of much ridiculed
democracy

With the implements which promote
its functions—

This world seems very
unsafe for
democracy just now—

But Americans, who are Americans
first

Have a definite interest in making
America safe—

For democracy—

Which is why we want your at-
tention just now—

There was a time when the railroad
magnates—

Had a handy little slogan, express-
ing their thought

"The public be damned," said they—

For almost a century: then some-
thing happened

Had it occurred to you, that some-
thing like that—

Could take place in the newspaper
business?

Not merely
because
something

comes along

Which is a better gadget, a more
clever mechanism—

But because something else will af-
ford more freedom—

More security to the Americans in
their essential supplies—

Of those things which are the life-
blood of their democracy

One of these essential to a living de-
mocracy

Is information, clean, straight, re-
liable. timely—

That is your business, supposedly—

To furnish the news. facts, accurate-
ly reported

Uncolored by opinion, as far as pos-
sible

Pictures of things as they are—

In their proper perspective and re-
lations

Given this. in a steady stream—

Opinions are not so difficult to
form—

By the man in the street. and the
woman in the home—

Real concern for the safety of de-
mocracy in America—

Has been evidenced by a few of
your clan—

But your opinions in the matter
taken as a whole—

Have been pretty much repudiated
by Americans—

Nor have you seemed to take that
very much to heart—

It is common knowledge—

That, in the main, your opinions are
for sale—

That your editorial columns and
headlines—

Express the supposed or known
opinions of your advertisers—

In whose judgment, by and large
America has reason to have small
confidence—

Since they fail to keep useful
citizens at work—

Making things they would like to
buy with their wages—

Newspapers are part of the thinking
apparatus of any country—

Hitler pushes newspaper buttons to
get his results—

It is doubtful if that can be done
in America, now—

Newspapers "are affected with a
public interest"

At least as much as street cars and
waterworks—

So, don't be surprised, if some day

Unless your clan takes measures to
perform its proper functions—

When you see the will of the peo-
ple expressed.in a new law

Relating to "Public Utilities for
Publicity."

WISDOM

I mistrust the judgment of
every man in a case in which his
own wishes are concerned.

Wellington.