“Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one” - A.J. Liebling
My father Bob Wilson took this to heart, and bought one and started his own newspaper, the Prairie Post of Maroa, Illinois in 1958, and ran it until he died in 1972. It never had a circulation of more than 2500 or so, but every week, he would fire off editorials at everyone and everything from local events to the actions of the nations of the world.
He may have been a Quaker peace activist in a Republican district, but his love and support of the farming communities garnered him enough respect that he eventually ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1962, though he lost. (He might have tried again, had he not died of an accident while only 49.) Many of his views ring true today. And he might have been willing to change the ones that fell behind the times. Although raised in the casual racism of the 1920s and 1930s, at the age of 15 he took stock of what he was being taught and discarded much of it as being wrong, and lived his life with respect for all.
I decided to transcribe his old editorials (I may make a book for some of my relatives) and every once in a while I will repost one here, as a view of how the world has changed wildly, or remained stubbornly the same.
November 3, 1960
WE WON'T SECEDE!
The time of decision is at hand. We hope that no registered voter who reads this paper will fail to cast his ballot Tuesday November 8th.
In so partisan a matter it would be expected that a newspaper use the final week before election for a last and strongest push to put across the candidates it favors.
We believe, with political sentiments at white heat across the land, there is something more important to say. This is, that the world will not end if our candidates lose the election!
No-one who reads our editorial page could fail to know we are convinced that the election of Dick Nixon to the Presidency would be a national disaster. A considerable number of sincere people are equally convinced that the reverse is true.
The American Voter has by now made up his mind. We have confidence in his – and her – judgement, and we shall most certainly abide by this decision. We do not intend to secede from the Union. We intend the hail the winner, whoever he may be – as The Chief. The voters will choose between two men who represent the two parties; when they have chosen, we will have a President for all the people.
All of us can thank the founders of this great republic that our government is not a one-man show. Our democratic traditions, and the elected legislature and appointed judiciary are powerful balance wheels to carry forward our free institutions with or without executive co-operation.
What is more, there resides in the mantle of our highest office, a power to transform the individual who wears it. A man mean and small in character may instead act as becomes the greatness of the office.
Say that Dick Nixon were elected; we should confidently expect him to display the tireless devotion to duty of an Eisenhower, the integrity of a Harding, the statesmanship of an Andrew Johnson.
Not all the portents will be dark if Mr. Nixon emerges the victor. He has committed himself to a very liberal platform, and would no doubt attempt to follow through on some of it. On the question of rights for the negroes, in particular, he could proceed without the disadvantage of a vice-president straight from the racist South.
Business-wise, Nixon has promised tax cuts and other advantages which would give “a more favorable climate” to “the private sector of the economy.” This should prove attractive to those who have large sums of money to invest.
As for the farmer, he would get along somehow. He always has.
We would not secede from the Union, but neither would we retreat from our responsibility to examine policies and men in the light of the particular needs of our area, and of eternal moral principles.
November ninth will be a day to forget differences, to congratulate the winners, and to line up solidly behind them, whatever their party affiliation. We are prepared.
November 10, 1960
HAIL THE CHIEF!
This is written as daylight sifts into the sky on Wednesday morning. Last night this writer was not able to leave the TV set till the election returns signed off at 5:30 a.m.
As lights go on in the homes across America, thee radios and TV sets come on, and Americans learn that they have elected Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts their next President.
It was close. Dick Nixon expected the big cities and industrial states to go Democratic, but hoped to close at the finish with returns from the West and Midwest. He almost did it. We fell asleep once, and woke to find he had moved within half a million votes of Jack Kennedy. No-one can say their vote did not count for something in this kind of contest.
Any block of voters who voted Kennedy can feel their support was the plus factor, and it was. Here in Illinois, however, the struggle was dramatized for us. Michigan, Minnesota, and California trembled on the edge, and Illinois appeared ready to topple. The Chicago vote was in, and the Democratic politicians held their breath to see if their quarter-million plurality there could hold the state against “Republican” downstate. Kennedy's lead melted away like snow, though Douglas and Kerner were never in trouble. The villages and towns were voting their traditional Republican ticket, and it looked hopeless.
Then the farmers of Illinois stood fast for the new farm program they all know they must have, stood fast against bigotry, against tradition, against the massive propaganda of the Farm Bureau; and the farmers of Illinois held the line!
We sincerely believe that the merchants and townsmen of Illinois, whose livelihood depends upon a prosperous agriculture, will have cause to thank them for it.