NEWSPAPER CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF ITS OWN

While Cape Girardeau residents are celebrating the bicentennial of the city's founding this year, the journal that has documented much of the community's history might be excused a meager observance of its own. Seventy-five years ago today, this newspaper took the name Southeast Missourian. And while a lot has changed in the world, and the world of newspapering, since this date in 1918, the fundamental tenets of this publication remain the same.

It should be noted that the newspaper was actually born 14 years prior to assuming the name Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian. The Naeter brothers founded this publication in 1904 under the nameplate of The Republican. During those early years, the newspaper did its best to live up to its partisan billing, unabashedly advocating the "party line." The story goes, however, that on March 1, 1918, in tribute to Harry Naeter, an opponent of The Republican's slanted ways, brothers George and Fred Naeter retired the nameplate in favor of the Southeast Missourian.

That blow for independence inspires efforts seven and a half decades later. While this newspaper (and every other newspaper) receives criticism regularly about perceived political inclinations as they ~relate to news coverage (sometimes the heat comes from both sides on the same issue always a confounding circumstance), the Southeast Missourian remains an independent newspaper. The Opinion page offers a point of view, just as all good editorial pages do. However, in covering the news of the day, this newspaper strives to provide a factual, timely and unbiased accounting of events. It is a legacy handed down by good newspaper people of the past, and it is commitment to be picked up by good newspaper people in the future.

The city's celebration of its 200th birthday brings us a good deal of satisfaction. As a home-owned company, the Southeast Missourian cherishes its association with Cape Girardeau. As one of the longest continually operating businesses, we are pleased to count ourselves among enduring local institutions. As chroniclers of this community's life, we hope we have made some positive impact. And, we hope to keep doing the job of an independent newspaper.