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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1921 BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF NINTH CONGRES SIONAL DISTRICT OF GEORGIA EDITORS Hon. John F. Shannon, of the Commerce News, Commerce, Ga., Writes Interestingly of the Personnel of the Ninth District Pencil Pushers. The following pH per was prepared and read by Mr. J. F. Hhannon, editor of the Commerce News at a meeting of the editors of the 9th district held in Gainesville June 18th: I have been requested to write a treatise on the personnel of the editors of the ninth congressional district. This task, pleasant though it may be, should have been assigned to one more famil iar with the group hs a whole. Some of them I know personally, others by rep utation, but unfortunately for myself 1 am denied even a meager acquaint ance with many of the editors of the district. Because of this, what I say will Ik* open to the criticism of favor itism. I must write, if I write at all, of those 1 know either personally or fiom reputation. Although quite a young man myself, I pride myself in that one of my char acteristics is found in the fact that 1 cherish a veneration for the aged. By this, I do not mean to insinuate that there are any aged men in the group of editors of this district, for the oldest of them feel yet quite young. By aged, 1 have reference only to those who have served longest in the newspaper busi ness. 1 regard it as being fortunate for (lie people of the district as u whole, that there htc among the editors of the district, a number of editors who are uo novices in the business. There aie several eitors in the district who have grown old in the service. Experience in any line or enterprise is an invalua ble asset. It’s wortli while to know how. The young man just from the halls of the best medical college in the land may have the best techinal educa tion to Ik- obtained, but he lacks the most valuable feature of a medical ed ucfltion—that of experience. The young gentleman who lias just gradu ated from law school may be suprls ed when lie finds himself clientless for several years, although he has a gradu ation certificate on the walls of his of fice. But few men of age and experi ence are in sympathy with that fellow who affirmed that when a man reaches the age of sixty he should have his head chopped off. for tlie reason that he is no longer efficient, First of all, I would pay tribute to a gentleman, who, in all probability has been in the newspaper business lon ger than any editor or newspaper man in the district. I refer to Harve Craig of Gainesville who has been connected with newspapers as editor and other wise, during the past 47 years. None but newspaper men know, or can im agine tin- vicissitude and experiences of a life of that long term in a print shop. Mr. Craig knows of the hardships of country newspaperdom; of the crude methods of half a century ago, compar ed to those of today. The modern press nml the type setting machine were unknown and undreamed of in the* early experiences of his professlon h) life. His first work was with the Gainesville Advertiser, a republican paper, as reporter, edited by John W. O’Neal, United State's Commissioner. In 1875 lie went with the Gainesville Southron, edited by Pete Lawshe. In issit he become associated' with the Jackson Herald. The Gainesville Ea gle was started in istitt by \V. A. Mitch ell. When Mr. Craig sold the Jackson Herald lie bought the Gainesville Ea gle. and was editor of that paper for a number of years. Recently in' sold the Eagle with a determination to take a rest. Then came one of the lonely periods of liis life. He was like a fish out of water. Try as he would bo could not wash the ink from his bauds nor bury the desire to go back into the printshop, and back lie went. The prob ability is that lie will die in the har ness. Editor Until; lias always been a fearless writer. 11c wore BO man's hat. He had opinions of his own and did not hesitate to express them. He was no straddler. His readers always knew where to find him. In a spirited controversy be was a foe to dread and if n<*ces*Nary he used English with sharp teeth. Not many who knew him cov eted a controversy with hitu. But his heart has always been saturated with kindliness and pathos. He was. and js the friend of the weak, the needy, 'and of the broken-hearted. At times his writings were masterpleees of beau tiful English. Henry Grady, in his palmiest day*, never wrote anything more jiathetle nor any masterpiece couched in more beautiful English than was Mr. Craig's tribute to the life of nis tieloved companion. That one pro duction alone will stHiid as a monument to his fielity, to his devotion, to his love for tin* companion of his life and to ids masterful use of the choicest Eng lish. Another gentleman who has worn the newspaper harness for many years is IV. B. Townsend, of the Dahlonega Nugget. He is the marvel of journal ism in the district. He is a one in a hill variety. He copies no one, He is the heart and soul of originality. He is perhaps the only newspaper man in this district who says what he pleases in his paper, regardless of who it may please or displease. He goes all the gaits. He is devil, pressman, printer and editor. In addition to all this he is the ordinary of the county. More over, they tell us he is one of the weal thiest men in the comity. We are cu rious to know whether or not he made all that money publishing the Nugget. If so, the Nugget has the right name. The Mouutaiu Signal, it is said was the oldest newspaper in Georgia, with the possible exception of the Augusta Con stitutionalist. The Signal was started in Dahlonega long before the Civil War. The Nugget was established in 1890. Later Mr. Townsend bought the plant. He bought on three years time. He did not have a dollar in his pocket when he bought it, but he paid for it in two years. Since he bought the Nugget he has seen the other paper in his town change hands six times and has finally attended the funeral of the other paper, but did not wear crepe on that occasion He sets all his type by hand and does all the office job work. His education is limited. He was a poor boy and there were no free schools in his young days. His education consisted of a smattering acquaintance with Websters Blue Back and McGuffcy’s First Read er. His knowledge of correct English has been obtained at the type case. He never writes anything for his paper. He goes to the type case with the eopy in his mind and reduces liis ideas to cold type. John Holder, editor of the Jackson Herald, likewise, has had long expe rience in the newspaper business. Grad uating at the State University, he spent a few years teaching the young idea how to shoot. It was the privilege of this writer to pay Mr. Holder the first money he earned after his graduation. At that time the writer was County School Commissioner of Franklin coun ty ami Mr. Holder was one of the teach ers of tlie county, at the heud of the school of Martin, which at that time was one of the best schools in the coun ty. The amount paid by the state may not have been more than a hundred dollars, but Mr. Holder was not so in timately acquainted or associated with money then as has been in latter years. He felt like he was rich when he re ceived that check which represented Die first money he had ever made. The first issue of the Jackson Herald was printed on June the 12th, 1875, and was entitled The Forest News. So, the [FISK! TIRES A Sold only by dealers The best fabric tire made for heavy service or rough roads RED-TOP Extra Ply Heavy Tread 30 X 31 $22.00 Reduction on all styles and sizes A New Low Price on a Known and Honest Product Herald was forty-six years old last Sunday. Maleomb Stafford was the editor. Mr. Holder associated himself with the paper thirty years ago and has since been its editor. The Herald, now as always, enjoyes a wide local circulation and a good advertising pat ronage. When Mr. Holder gets an oc casional breathing spell from other business enterprise's, and from public duties he enlivens the editorial page with contributions that are read and frequently copied. If all the material had not been con sumed in the makeup of editor Town send we might reasonably have inferr ed that George D. Rucker, editor of the Alpharetta Free Frees, is a first cousin of Townsend. In some respects they are much alike, in others, far apart as the poles. Townsend lias never fallen in love with the stock law. and Rucker has not purchased any stock in the Coca-Cola Cos. He is unique and un like any other editor, in the district, in that no tobacco manufacturer or cigar ette maker can get an advertisement in the Free Press for love or money. A hungry man has never been able to un derstand it, when he sees another fel low positively refuse to eat. Some of Mr. Rucker’s brethren of tlie press can not understand why it is he can muster the backbone to turn down a good fat advertisement contract, that is as good as a United States Bond. But Mr. Rucker claims to the capacity to dis tinguish between a sound and an un sound egg. Answering one of his crit ics in a recent issue of tlie Free Press, Mr. Rucker says: “The Free Press would feel that it had lost it’s own soul for the sake of filthy lucre if it induc ed young mefit to form tlie liquor, or Coca-Cola or cigarette habit.” A theo ry is one thing and fact is another and quite a different tiling. A theory may lie easily overcome but facts are very stubborn tilings. The fact is, no father would advise or be willing for his son to drink or smoke. If nothing else Mr. Rucker is consistent. He is a representative of an element which, while it may lie small now, will grow in years to come. Whiskey lias been outlawed, and sooner or later tobacco will suffer tlie same fate. Even now, no young minister can get admission into the Methodist church to preach the gospel until be promises to abstain from the use of tobacco. But tell us pray, George, what are old men like Brother McWhorter, who loves his pipe and the writer who loves his nnd the writer who enjoys his chew, to do. Who, that comes in contact with the Free Press, does not rush over to the editorial page? It is one of the bright est, tlie cleanest, the sanest, tlie most consistent editorial pages in the state. But to hasten we must hit the ground only in the high places. It would tax the patience of his assemblage to dwell at length on all the eduitors, for there are thirty of them in the ninth district. The Banks County Journal is edited by Jack Hilton, is both unique and original. He has traveled, has wide experience for one of liis age, has been in all the large cities of the states but had rather live in Homer THE WINDER NEWB than any place on the face of the earth. Just why, we will let Jack tell the sto ry. Mr. F. D. Singleton edits the Tri- County Advertiser, which is publish ed at Clarkesville. He enjoys a pat ronage unequalled by any other paper in the district, in that his is the coun ty organ for that county—Habersham, and two adjoining counties. Formerly be was editor of the Clayton Tribune but when he bought the Clarkesville Advertiser, he discontinued the publi cation of the Tribune. He is one of the outspoken editors of the district. He speaks his mind freely on all ques tions that pertain to the public good. He is an open foe to the manufacture, sale oc use in any form of any sort of intoxicants. In this particular he is in a missionary territory with abundant opportunity to sow much needed seed he is sowing them broadcast, even if they fall on stony ground. His little 12-year-old daughter in the youngest lino operator in the dist. Young as she is, she sets all the type for her father’s paper. In recognition of this service and honor, she deserves special recog nition in our organization. J. P. Itudisill edits the Advance at Canton. We have not been favored with, an ;intimate acquaintance but from references in the Free Press we liave formed the opinion that he pos sesses quantities of money and wears lots of fine clothes. Mrs. B. H. Howard, editor of the Ad vertiser at Dawsonville, enjoys the dis tinction of being the only lady in the district who presides over the destinies of a paper. We would assure her that her brethren of the press sympathize with her sincerely, in the recent mis fortunes she has sustained. We are not well posted as to who bolds the destinies in his hands of the Post, published at Blue Ridge. Later we hope to be sufficiently pasted to re port the details of the Post. We hope to meet Brother J. E. Kirby of the North Georgian, published at Cummings here today. It must be a mighty good paper for it has an at tractive name, and one that we all love. Many of the editors of the district have, until now, been denied the person al acquaintance of Brother McWhorter, our president. He is no novice in the newspaper business. Some years ago he was C. S. C. of Oconee county. While there he owned and edited the Oconee Enterprise. He sold the Enterprise and bought a paper at Yidalia. He put it on its feet, sold it for a good pro fit and bought the Winder News. Not satisfied with that he then bought the Barrow r County Times, another paper 1899 1921 a Our futuve hopes are built largely on growth. When we plant corn, wheat or any other grain, it is with the belief that we will receive an increase in yield. Take for instance: Our babies look very sweet now and very often we hear their mothers say they wish their children could always remain sweet, little babies, but they real ly do not mean this. The mother’s hopes are built on the baby's future growth. Saving and making money is based on the same prin cipal. A person having SIOO.OO today expects or should expect it to be worth more by January Ist, 1921. By placing your money in our Savings Department, you start this growth and have the consolation that your funds are safe. All of our employees are under a $2500.00 bond, coupled with Burglary Insurance, a • half million resources, with 22 years successful opera tion and growth. To those who have gold, we will place same where it is absolutely safe and pay back in gold any day you should desire, and you will secure 4 per cent on January Ist. > Why not start your Savings Account at once and get the growth and security your money should secure for you. Yours to Serve, Winder National Bank 1899 1921 published in Winder, so that he now has control of that entire territory. He was also at one time connected with the Summerville News. J. B. Patterson edits tlie News at Forsyth. D. M. Byrd is editor of the Lawrenceville News-Herald, while C. M. Moreoek presides over the Journal of the same place. Jack Majors pub lishes ihe Advertiser at Buford. Mr. Chas. Temple is edR >r of the Enter prise published at < irneiia. Guy Clop ton writ. < :: v e litorials for the Gaines ville Herald assisted py Harve Craig H. M. Edge is responsible for the edi torial page of the Progress published at Jasper. John A. Reynolds issues the Tribune, published at Clayton. E. H. Graves is the veteran editor of the Toccoa Record, and is easily one of the best newspapr men and has one of the best equipped plants in the district. Claud Edge handles the editorial page of the Courier, published at Ellijay. We have been unable to obtain the name of the gentleman who edits the Northeast Georgian, published at Blairsville. Mr. G. E. Hill is editor in chief of the Mays ville Enterprise. He has a life long experience in the business and is pos sibly the best printer in the district. Ice Cream We are prepared to fill all orders for Ice Cream for Barbecues, Picnics, Celebrations, Weddings, Birthday Dinners, Family Reun ions, Cafes, Restaurants. If you want a lit tie in your grocery store call 35. Mail orders given special attention. i BENTLY ICE CREAM COMPANY SUBSCRIPTION: SI.BO A YEAR Mr. J. P. Davison, who is secretary of this association, is editor of the Cour ier, published at Cleveland, and his ed torial page is a bright one. The Chris tian Freeman, published at Winder, ed ited by T. C. Buchanan, is the only re-| ligious paper published in the district. Mr. T. H. Robertson publishes and edits the Odd Fellow at Gainesville, making four papers for that city. The Booster, the baby paper of the district, edited by H. F. Braselton, is an asset highly valued by the local community Some of the editors of the district have been signally honored, Mr. A. S. Hardy, of the News, holds the responsi ble position as postmaster at Gaines ville. George D. Rucker holds a sim jar position at his home town. Brother Harber of the Commerce Observer was honored by the Georgia Press Associa tion by electing him as president of the Association. Mr. Holder, of the Jack son Herald, represented his county and district in the general assembly for a period of twenty years. During that time he served as speaker of the (Continued on page 6)