“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.
March 2, 1961
LUNACY IN LOUISVILLE
Down in Louisville, Illinois, a man named John S. Harrell has been making headlines with his feud against the “Communists” whom he claims infest that pleasant rural community.
Mr. Harrell was recently a candidate for United States Senator, under the slogan “Put God Back In Government!”
Defeated in that, the wealthy Mr. Harrell organized a church, a school, and a political party to help him combat the Communists, who are doubtless out to subvert every goat and laying hen in the county, and for all we know, put fluorine in the water to boot!
There have been hecklers at meetings, shots through windows, a burning in Effigy (Effigy, as we understand it, is a suburb of Louisville.)
We are not sure just who they are, but there are obviously some lunatics loose in Louisville.
Mr. Harrell's sad story illustrates the fact – which we have mentioned before – that we cannot follow everyone who claims to be against the things we are against. Adolf Hitler, the Nazi, built his power on a campaign of hatred against the Communists; and later, other groups as well. There are both the Political Left and the Political Right; if a nation goes overboard on either side, it will find itself in pretty deep water.
In discussing this case, a friend of ours commented, “We have some wonderful institutions in this country... it's a shame some people aren't in them!”
Let's put God back in government, but let's put Mr. Harrell somewhere else!
March 30, 1961
SOMETHING FISHY HERE
We most respectfully call attention to the report of Dr. Michael B. Shimkin of the National Cancer Institute. Between 50% and 75% of the hatchery-reared trout in half the hatcheries of the United States have been found to be affected by cancer of the liver. Unless remedial measures are found soon, it is expected that trout fishing as an American sport may almost disappear within a few years.
Although the cause is unknown, Dr. Shimkin pointed out the correlation between the appearance of the disease and the introduction of cheaper fish foods. Formerly reared on meat scrap, the cultivated fingerlings have lately been fed on high-carbohydrate, low protein pellets.
“Today trout, tomorrow man!” commented one of the research specialists.
It has been alleged – though not properly proven – that human cancer has been steadily increasing; over the the same period of time, a lean hard pioneer race who throve on high-protein foods have become soft and flabby on a rich diet that is high in carbohydrates and only average on protein.
Would research find a low incidence of cancer among people who consume quantities of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products?
Cancer may – and this is only conjecture – come more readily to the person who is short on these body-building proteins, and whose tissues already have begun to degenerate from too much mashed potatoes, gravy, and pie.
Stockmen have seen what adequate protein will do in sound bone and glossy hair. While the researchers are busy examining the evidence, anyone not under different dietary instructions from his physician would do well to keep his diet high in the meat, milk, cheese and eggs which our rich soils and healthy livestock produce in such abundance.
EVEN THE MISTAKEN
Last week we printed here a letter from Louisville, Illinois, asking our permission to reprint our editorial of March 9, entitled “Lunacy in Louisville”, in their local newspaper.
Our readers will be interested to know that shortly thereafter Mr. John Harrell himself was on the phone. He explained about his county being full of Communists who shoot at him, while the police claim it is nothing but boys with BB guns.
Mainly, however, he wanted to know whether we had stated that he belonged in an insane asylum. We told him NO; we left it to our readers to form their own opinions.
Everyone by now knows about Mr. Harrell, and agreement is general about this unfortunate case.
Perhaps it is time to remember, however, not to let ridicule descend into actual persecution. Mistaken or not, Harrell and his people do have rights; among them is the right to be different, and the right to educate their own children if they supply adequate instruction.
Only by defending his rights, can we insure our own!