ingly awkward situations from which however they may be able yet to extricate themselves.
It is profoundly to be hoped that the efforts they are obviously making to set themselves right will avail. For a purely negative patriotism, especially in the people's leaders, is a terrible thing. Knowing the German Americans, I do not doubt that they will perform the duties of soldiers when their numbers are called. But it is one thing for a man to make the great sacrifice because he once took an oath to defend the nation which granted him citizenship, and it is quite another to sacrifice himself for a great ideal, a sacred cause. The German editors, thus far, have failed to perform for their people the great service for which as leaders they should feel themselves responsible: to free them from the awful doom of going into this war in the spirit of Persian slaves; to interpret to them the ideals set before the American people by their president who sees in this struggle the opportunity for America to "spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured."
Organization of County Units
By F. S. Minshall, Editor and Publisher of the Benton County Review
I have been asked to express in writing my ideas on "The value of the organization of the various counties of the state as units to comprise the State Editorial Association."
The necessity of such local units seems very apparent to the writer since the State organization itself is comprised of, and of necessity must be made up of the county units as component parts.
A thorough organization of every individual county would ensure a complete, permanent, harmonious and powerful State organization.
This is not only good theory but so accords with conditions the newspaper fraternity is up against today, that it must be put into practical operation in the near future if the State organization is to wield the power and influence it should.
The business world has made many and rapid strides in the past decade and whether we, as newspaper men, desire it or not, we are being swept along by the current of time and he who will not adjust his affairs in accordance with the demands of the times will soon fall by the wayside. The hideous nightmare of other days I believe is past—the nightmare of cut prices, vindictive jealousies and a bare cupboard.
I am glad that the morning of a brighter and better day has come—a day when we shall all mingle together as members of a common brother hood, fellow craftsmen not only to profit by the mutual exchange of ideas but to live upon a higher plane as is our just right.
There are several good reasons why all the newspapers in any given county should unite for mutual benefit. You will perhaps be tempted to smile when I state that I believe that the "ethical" reason is the strong est one of them all. The mere mention of "ethics" in the newspaper game
