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Show Something to Think About Geo. E. Manwaring. Editor Progressive Opinion: I have read carefully every item on the Editorial Page of the Progressive for March 17th with the result that I HAVE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. "Don'ts That Worry Us" is a "humdinger." It portrays' in vivid language the trials and tribulations of the editor of the average weekly newspaper. It reminds me of the time when the Baptists held a sort of free for all meeting in their Church and invited members of all denominations to attend. They advertised a well known minister from a neighboring city as the guest speaker. His difficulty was that he belonged to another faith and of necessity must tread softly but also carry a big stick. The church was packed to overflowing. The Chairman sat in the rostrum with the guest speaker and turned turn-ed to him from time to time to remind him that a delegation had just filed in from the Catholic Church, or the Methodists, or some other local members of other denominations, and that it would require considerable diplomacy on his part that it would be well to guard his words and weigh them carefully in order not to give offense. Finally in desperation, the speaker asked: "What on earth can I talk about?" "Well," answered the chairman, "you can talk about the Mormons. They haven't got any friends." Your trouble, as I view it, is that there is nothing left for you to write about if you hope to avoid criticism. I said in a recent letter that it wasn't even safe to write about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and you bet I meant that. Personally, I prefer Progressive Opinion and its Editor as is without any change. If you continue to tell the truth you will be unpopular with the crowd. If you switch over, cancel subs, probably without the formality of paying their bills. There is an old Biblical saying to the effect that "The way of the transgressor is hard," and that holds true of the reformer and the prophet. If you can continue to turn out stuff as good as "DON'TS" and the other editorials in the issue of the 17th on a diet of carrots, oatmeal and apples, God pity some of the malefactors if you get back on a red mead diet. T for r,ne wjn be glad to help furnish the carrots, oatmeal and apples. |