[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 45 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E473-E474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO THE LIBERTY TRIBUNE

                                 ______


                            HON. PAT DANNER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 27, 1996

  Ms. DANNER. Mr. Speaker, since the Liberty Tribune's initial 
publication on April 4, 1846, and through the Civil War, both World 
Wars, America's voyages into space and countless other events, great 
and small, the newspaper has faithfully reported the news of the day. 
In fact, it is my understanding that the Liberty Tribune is the oldest 
continually published paper west of the Mississippi. This is truly an 
impressive accomplishment.
  But longevity matters little if it is not accompanied by substance 
and style. The paper has more than passed muster on all three accounts, 
and the city of Liberty is a better place today because of it.
  Community newspapers such as the Liberty Tribune serve as an 
important meeting place for generations of people from all walks of 
life. They provide information, chronicle the rough times, tout the 
good ones, and serve as a community's conscience when needed.
  This is particularly true for our young people, who see that their 
successes in the classroom and on the ballfields make the local paper. 
They read about the important contributions of local civic leaders and 
witness how the power of well-reasoned opinions--on matters from local 
school district bond issues to international affairs--can affect 
government.
  I know that the Liberty Tribune reports the positive happenings in 
the community as well as the bad news--true balanced reporting. This 
should not be surprising as the paper has had plenty of experience.
  For instance, it is interesting to note that the Liberty Tribune 
started publication while James Polk was President. Some of the paper's 
first articles were about the Mexican-American War, in particular the 
story of Col. Alexander Donipan and his troops from Clay County who 
fought in the Battle of Bracito. Year later, the Liberty Tribune 
covered the Civil War and Jesse James. But to put matters into 
perspective, all of this is really little more than a quick glance back 
into history full of so much more news and reporting by the Liberty 
Tribune.
  William Allen White, a towering figure in midwestern journalism for 
decades, believed that a hometown newspaper should serve a dual role--
reporting the news and serving as a booster for the community. He 
understood that the true community newspaper works diligently not only 
to deliver the news but also to improve the community.
  When the editor of a metropolitan paper scoffed at Mr. White and his 
Emporia, KS, Gazette, the respected small town editor fired back a 
timeless response.
  ``Know this and know it well,'' White said. ``If you would take the 
clay from your eyes and read the little paper as it is written you 
would find all of God's beautiful sorrowing, struggling, aspiring world 
in it--and what you saw

[[Page E474]]

would make you touch the paper with reverent hands.''
  Mr. Speaker, the Liberty Tribune can take pride in being an important 
part of the strong tradition of balanced, community-minded reporting of 
which Mr. White spoke so eloquently.

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