“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.
August 11, 1960
WATCH THE “M”S GO BY!
When we were very young, we played a counting game as the family automobile sailed along the highway.
In those days, we counted white horses. The horses have long since been eaten up as hamburger, so today's children must count something else.
We suggest they make a game out of counting Illinois license plates that begin with the letter “M”. You will find these so plentiful on the highways as you go out for your Sunday drive, that the children will find no difficulty in making a lively game of it.
These cars are property of the State of Illinois, issued to officials for business use only. None of these people have any official function to perform over the weekends, and they are under strict orders to use their own private automobiles for pleasure trips.
Despite this, a responsible businessman from this area has just reported to us; during a recent Saturday and Sunday when he drove several times between Springfield and Lincoln, he counted OVER SIXTY state cars on the road. Many of them contained whole families.
All operators of “M” license state cars are supplied with state credit cards which they need only present to any filling station to cover gas, oil, grease jobs, anti-freeze, etc.
Not only are the taxpayers furnishing the automobiles for these pleasure jaunts; we are also paying for the gas.
Our friend declares he has discussed the matter with state employees of his acquaintance. They explain that they are “underpaid”, and “must take part of their compensation in the free use of official cars.”
Perhaps no-one should be surprised at theft (there is nothing else to call it) in the lower ranks, when the present state administration is considered by many THE MOST CORRUPT IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.
One after another of Governor Stratton's aides and cohorts have been caught with their hands in the public till; in each case the Governor pretends astonishment and promises an investigation. It is typical of an organization that is rotten at the top, that it either encourages, or fears to punish, petty pilfering by the people at the bottom.
There are few so naïve as to suppose that the incoming Governor Kerner will bring with him any host of angels to hold down administrative offices.
The least the public can expect, however, is that a new “reform” administration will for a year or two make an effort to show a healthier treasury, and the patterns of graft and corruption will require some time to re-establish as a new set of officials yield, one by one, to the temptations of public office.
If Judge Kerner proves to be a man of any moral fibre whatsoever – and we believe he will – the degree of dishonesty existing in the new government of the State of Illinois will never approach that which we have now.
Meanwhile, the “M” cars roll on. Have your children count them as you go out for a Sunday drive; after all, it is your children who will pay the bill.
September 1, 1960
WE STILL SAY NIX!
Since we wrote in these columns, on August 4th, that Vice President Nixon is NOT A QUAKER, we have received letters and personal representations from a number of person who disagree.
It is not our wish to belittle, beyond what he has done to himself, a man who is the presidential candidate of millions of sincere Americans, amounting to perhaps two-fifths of the electorate.
The editor knows many fine people who vote the Republican ticket and are proud of it, including both his parents. We have a great deal of respect for these people, and sympathy, too.
Several have mentioned to us that Nixon's name appears on the membership rolls of the Quaker Meeting in East Whittier, California. He never JOINED this meeting; according to an antiquated custom, his name was inscribed there as a member BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WAS. We attempt to cover this by stating that no-one in any meaningful sense was ever a member of a religious organization UNLESS HE PERSONALLY COMMITTED HIMSELF TO IT.
We concede, freely what several helpful individuals have reminded us of; that the name is there on the records, and when Nixon was younger he sat through a number of services in Friends meetings.
Since August 4th (when we had NOT met any) we have now met two Quakers who are really proud to claim Mr. Nixon. All things are possible...
We stand by our statement, however, that there is nothing involved which could be called active participation in, or valid identification with this religious group.
His mother may also have been a member of the Eastern Star. We trust no-one assumes this makes him one?
September 8, 1960
OR DID YOU KNOW?
We have just enjoyed re-reading a selection of the short stories of Mark Twain. In one of them, entitled, “How I Edited An Agricultural Paper”, we stumbled across the following gem; “...It is the first time I ever heard of a man's having to know anything in order to edit a newspaper...”
We just thought you'd like to know.