Early Editorials

The editor and manager of the Pike County News, J. W. Roland, wrote what was the equivalent of today’s editorial page, although it was not labeled as such.  Eighty years later his ideas do not seem forward-thinking.  Here are two examples.

This is from March 26, 1926:

JUST A WORD TO PIKE COUNTY

Rowland says that Pike County has depended too long on the coal industry for its prosperity.  He suggests that agriculture should be Pike County’s future, and gives several examples.  He does not provide specific reasons for backing away from coal.  Pike County produced more coal in 1999 than the entire state in 1920, so his suggestion was wide of the mark.

This is from April 2, 1926:

THINKING ABOUT PROHIBITION

This is an editorial in which it is suggested the 18^th amendment should be called the Health Amendment because the name prohibition is negative and makes people want to do it.  Did he really think people would stop producing and consuming alcohol if the word “prohibition” was changed to “health?”  Sometimes it is not possible to tell if the author is serious or kidding.