who have heard it wonder how the paper got it so soon , and how it could be printed so quickly.
Speak a good word for this paper whenever you can. Send to the office the names of persons who should be, but are not, subscribers. Sample copies will then be sent them. Don't mistake advertising for news. If your storekeeper asks you to say he has just received a large stock of the latest goods, tell him that is the kind of item the paper makes a charge for.
Grammatically speaking, write as well as you can. But don't hesitate to send news because you fear you may not construct faultless sentences. It is the editor's business to correct copy, and he would much rather receive ungrammatical letters giving all the news than grammatically correct ones that fail to give it. Don't attempt "fine writin'." The plainest English is the best.
The Editor's Part
The editor is trying to do the best he knows how. He may sometimes leave out items that you send. He will not do so except for good reasons. Very often his reason is lack of space. Seeing other less important matter in the paper, you may wonder how this can be. Generally it will be because the other matter was in type before yours had reached the office, and sometimes it will be because it had already been printed on what is called the "first side" of the paper. Even if you get your letter to the office ahead of the time specified, he may have to cut out sime items because of an unexpected rush at the last moment. It is no uncommon thing in this office to "kill" from one to three columns of matter each week, because received too late to handle.
A Word in Conclusion
The editor is, as you will find as you come to know him better, a reasonable as well as a well-intending man.
He has filled this little booklet with a lot of do's and don'ts, that, if every one of them could be heeded to the utmost, would make everyone of his correspondents an ideal newsgatherer. He would frankly say, though, that he is conscious he has preached a great deal better than he would him self be able to practice!
The most expected in the way of practice, from our correspondents, is that each will profit from the suggestions to the best of his or her ability and do just as well as he or she can.
If at any time you think of some way in which this newspaper can, in your opinion, be made more interesting to its subscribers, do not hesitate to write or speak to us concerning the matter. Suggestions to that end are always welcomed.
Who's Who in Washington Journalism
Clarence Ellington, new president of The State Press Association, was born in Missouri in the year—well, you can guess. His father died when Mr. Ellington was eleven and his mother when he was thirteen, leaving him and his younger brother. After his mother's death, he went to southern California where he lived seven years until he came to Chehalis about twenty years' ago.
Mr. Ellington learned the printing trade in a small Missouri town, where he worked several months for $1.50 a
