North Dakota State College of Science - Agawasie Yearbook (Wahpeton, ND)

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PAGE 4 THE 1950 AGAWASIE Local Editor, State Sigma Delta Chi President, Explains Weeklies Role Wahpcton is served by a paper that is highly representative of the Grass Roots Press . The Richland County Farmer-Globe is recognized throughout the country as one of the leading small city weeklies . E. Donald Lum. who. along with his brother. D. Eldon Lum. publishes the Fanner-Globe, has been particularly active in promoting cooperation among the nation’s small town papers. At a meeting of the National Editorial Association in Chicago not long ago. he was singled out as one of the men who has led in the development of that organization and in the promotion of high standards for the nation’s small town papers. This spring he added to his growing list of honors when he was elected state president of Sigma Delta Chi. national honorary journalism fraternity. He is also a past-president of the North Dakota Press Association. In a special article prepared for the I960 Agawasie. he has pointed out the important role of the Grass Roots Press in the development of America. The article- ☆ ☆ The dissemination of news is fundamental to a newspaper. And by its eery nature, that policy fosters an enlightened people and a progressiee community, ft is a moot guest ion whether editorial opinions or the unbiased news columns contribute more to public thinking. Hut. for a certainty, opinions are molded by the news in a newspaper. Questions are discussed intelligently. Geographic barriers are surmounted. Strangers become as neighbors when they read newsworthy events in a newspaper. I'eople who read regularly a newspaper from their own city or a neighboring town become affiliated with that city. The streets, the buildings, the stores, the institutions and social groups are their own. .-In attraction seems to focus their attention to that town whose newspaper they read. Farms and farm organisations look upon the newspaper as their” newspaper and expect it to be their ready source of information and publicity. When civic projects are undertaken the newspaper is the rallying place, . ewspaper publicity is vital, .t community with a good newspaper has a powerful agent for growth. A community without a newspaper tacks an essential for betterment. .-Is it becomes a part K. Donald Lum Grass Roots Publisher ☆ ☆ ☆ of the reading habits in the homes of the city and the surrounding countryside, a newspaper is a narrator of the present, the historian of the past and prophet of the future. It serves to knit an area together into a neighborhood at the same time attracting newcomers. To survive a newspaper must thrust its community, state and nation ahead in the paths of righteousness and progress. .•I good newspaper grows upon its readers. There is no need for them to study the logotype to identify the familiar publication, .-1 good newspaper belongs to and is of the community. It has a place in the homes of the community and in those homes it wields its greatest influence. .-1 newspaper can be a great power for good. A trust is placed in the hands of a newspaperman by his neighbors and friends. His fellow citizens expect him to be honest and fair. His newspaper must express opinions honestly arrived at. His news columns must present the news without prejudice and as completely as possible. The advertising columns, like the news and editorial columns. must be above reproach. And such a newspaper is part and parcel of the people whom it serves. Such newspapers h a v e helped and are helping to build the towns and teeming cities, the lovely farms and contented villages that make America a land of happy homes. E. Donald Lum Minneapolis Tribune's John Cowles Stresses Duty of Newspapers Newspapers ought ... to serve the highest common denominator of their readers' interest and constantly endeavor to raise that denominator.” Those are the comments of John Cowles, president of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. in a letter to the 1950 Agawasie. The papers published by the Cowles tamily in Minneapolis have long been recognized throughout the country as fine examples of newspaper leadership. Their service to the Upper Midwest area in which we live has likewise been widely recognized for years. Mr. Cowles full comments: Newspapers perform an essential role in a democracy. They have an obligation to try to make important news interesting so that a larger proportion of the people will read it and become better informed. They have an obligation to try to guide public opinion on their editorial pages so that their readers will come to have sounder judgment on the political and economic and social problems confronting the country. Newspapers ought also to try to serve the highest common denominator of their readers' interest and constantly endeavor to raise that denominator. It goes without saying that newspapers have an obligation to print the news, all of it. as honestly and fairly and impartially as they can. If newspapers try to do all these things, they are helping build a stronger United States. Sincerely. John Cowles ☆ ☆ One of the most widely respected newspaper editors of America is the New York Herald Tribune’s Whitclaw Reid. In a letter to the 1950 Agawasie he set forth an interesting digest of the role of American newspapers in the development of our country. Newspapers are a fundamental part of .-I m e r i c a n democracy. Without them people could be informed on neither candidates for office nor issues on which the health and life of the country depend. In my judgment newspapers serve the processes of government as yeast in bread. They help to briny alive the aspirations of our people; subsequently they are a force in seeing that these aspirations are enacted in legislation and that the taws of the land are administered in accordance with the nation's best interests.

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THE 1950 AGAWASIE PAGE 3 Governors Of Three States Join The Agawasie In Commendation To American Newspapers Because. In addition to the major portion of the enrollment of the State School of Science which comes from the home state of North Dakota, a large number of students come from nearby Minnesota and South Dakota each year, the governors of three states were invited to join the 1950 Agawasie in its tribute to the newspapers of America. In answer to the request of Editor Mike Schaff. Governors Fred G. Aandahl. George T. Mickelson and Luther W. Young-dahl of North Dakota. South Dakota and Minnesota respectively. sent their comments on the role played by newspapers in the development of America and their continuing role In the progress of our country. Governor Aandahl stressed the ever present desire of the American people for correct information, and how it falls to the nation’s press to fill this desire. Governor Mickelson pointed out that ‘’a free press is a fundamental part of the progress of our great nation and that real strength is found in our free and alert press. Governor Youngdahl made clear the point that America must be kept aware that a free press is a vital part of our way of life. The complete comments of the three chief executives follow: I am pleased to know that the North Dakota School of Science has seen it to dedicate its campus yearbook for 1950 to the newspapers of America. In these cm-deal days when the lights of liberty are being extinguished in certain nations of the world it becomes more and more apparent that we must guard vigilantly the freedom of the press, if we hope to preserve our way of life. IVe have seen time and again that the newspapers are among the first to be controlled in sti ling of human liberty. IVe must never forget these examples of people who have not understood this and have paid dearly for their indifference. You will do much to help keep America aroused to the vital role of newspapers in a free nation through the tribute which you pay them in your publication. ☆ ☆ The American people are hungry for correct information. It is an appetite that can never be satiated, i'.ach new event and its association with other events of the past calls for more information. The press of the nation is one of the strong units that bring information to the people. Under American standards it has been kept free and independent and permitted to perform its functions to the full capacity and ability of its staff. It has done a fine job and through its efforts our American democracy has been able to grow strong. An intelligent and well informed public make effective government by the people possible. Sincerely yours, Fred G. Aandahl (lover nor. State of iXorth Dakota ☆ ☆ ☆ .•I free press is a fundamental part of the progress of our great nation. It is through the newspapers and magazines of this country that the real strength of America’s rise to greatness has been brought to succeeding generations. Thus an ever growing group of responsible citizens have been inspired, both in peace and war to work in the cause of democracy. An alert press, free from governmental restrictions, must ever be a part of our great American system. Luther IV. Youngdahl Governor. State of Minnesota George T. Mickelson Governor, State of South Dakota N. D. Congressmen Join Governors in Salute to American Newspapers North Dakota's four congressional representatives in the nation’s capital responded to editor Mike Schaff's request for comments on the role of the American newspaper in the development of our country. Senator William Danger expressed the debt of gratitude the nation owes its newspapers for their efforts in keeping the principles of unbiased information available to all concerned. Senator Milton II. Young point-oil out that, like many other institutions in America, wc have come to look on our newspaper as a part of our way of life without fully realizing their importance and contributions. Representative Usher L. Burdick set forth the fact that since the earliest time the communication of information and ideas has gone hand-in-hand with man’s progress. Representative William Lcmke added his voice to the Agawasie’s salute to the nation’s newspapers, pointing out that wc must never surrender the right to say what wc think.” The full statements of the four congressmen: ☆ ☆ ☆ One of the greatest heritages that our forefathers left to this .Xation was our inalienable right of freedom of speech. 1 is so of ten forgotten just how privileged we are, and how peoples all over the world envy us because wc can listen to the radio and read the newspapers ivith the assurance that what we hear and read has not been dictated by our government, but rather is the word of the people. One of the greatest of all utilities which have kept the public informed on events of importance has been our daily newspapers, and to them we should extend no end of graditude for their efforts in keeping the principles of unbiased information available to all concerned. Sincerely. W. l.anger N. D. CONGRESSMEN Continued on pago 5

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UJSeaLi . Lw - • ‘ - » - Ik . • THE 19S0 AGAWASIE PAGE S New York Editor Cites Serious Newspaper's Importance in America The serious newspaper—the one that seeks to inform its readers rather than solely to entertain them—is an essential adjunct to our democratic system. Those comments by Arthur Hays Sulzberger. publisher of the AVie York Timex, In a letter to the 1950 Ago-(Mtfe. not only point out an important phase of the newspaper's role in America, but describe the AYii’ York Times, itself. No newspaper in the world rivals the famed Times for complete reporting of the news. Its far-flung system of correspondents throughout the world provides it with top-notch coverage of the news. It is a newspaper of distinction. and although it is not the most widely circulated of the American newspapers, it is probably known and respected in more places and by more people than any of its contemporaries. Mr. Sulzberger's full comments on the role of the American newspaper in the development of our country: .-Is people mature, they have the choice of being followers or being leaders, tf they choose the former role, chance alone determines what leader they will follow. It may be a Stalin, a Teron. or a Franco. If. on the other hand, they choose to be leaders, then they must be informed for only an informed electorate can make wise judgments. The serious newspaper—the one that seeks to inform its readers rather than solely to entertain them—is an essential adjunct to our democratic system. Without these serious newspapers, without readers who hare the intelligence to comprehend them, democracy as we know it is doomed. That's why think newspapers are important. ☆ ☆ I • »; . n r jc ... »»» | W.N-M ..... !• - • i MU in’ -m» u m i ir—l - M kl •IsXtH '« « « m mutliuis I »• • L .. v ■ vu. ] Mt I OK . vr “A'fiWSPAPERS — KEY TO AMERICAN FREEDOM ☆ ☆ i . ☆ North Dakota Congressmen Praise Press For Freedom Protection Role Continued from page 3 From earliest recorded limes, since man first began to scribble on care walls, the communication of information and ideas has gone hand-in-hand with man's progress. After the invention of the printing press, it is not entirely coincidental that man began to advance himself more rapidly through the more efficient interchange of progressive ideas. Newspapers, from the very beginning. have been much maligned by governments. Some newspapers, indeed, by their irresponsible tactics. have deserved criticism. The lighting editors of the early newspapers of this country did much to promote and encourage the formation of a new empire in the North American wilderness, and the early settlement of lands that were to become what we now know as the United States. One well-known chain of newspapers has a slogan, dive light and the people will find their own way. It is significant that newspapers in some countries of the world today, under iron government control and censorship, are unable to give that light, and so it is not without cause that the people of some of those countries are having trouble finding their own way. The responsibilities of a free and unfettered press are great in a liberty-loving country. It is to be hoped that the American press will continue in the great traditions it began to establish during revolutionary times. Sincerely yours. I'sher L. Burdick There are many institutions in this country which we have come to look on as a pari of our way of life without fully realising their importance and contributions. For example, our newspapers fall in that category, and even though they have effectively disseminated truth and knowledge for years, we oftentimes overlook this singular contribution. It should always be remembered that an enlightened electorate is democracy’s strongest hope. In that great challenge, the newspapers of America have had a leading part, and for that reason freedom of the press” and all that goes with it should be preserved and strengthened. Sincerely yours. Milton II. Young ☆ ☆ Freedom is not always free. Even when once acquired it must be guarded by vigilance and some personal sacrifice. The freedom that we acquired when we threw off the British yoke is still ours because it was guarded by freedom of speech and defended by a free press. That freedom is threatened today by governmental bureaucracy. If we are to continue freedom of speech, then we must never surrender the right to say what we think. If the free press is to continue. then it must not permit its policies to be dictated by governmental agencies nor by advertisements. The individual must never permit his lips to he sealed, nor must the press surrender its independence. Sincerely yours. William Lemke