Our circulation in Western Canada would not perhaps yet warrant such an organization.  But working along the same lines, could we not have one paper, with different issues for the different Prairie Provinces?  This would necessitate a chief editor for the editorials of general character, common to all—­and a sub-editor in each Province who could also act as manager in his section of the country.  To write editorials adapted to the ever-changing needs of his Province, answer those who attack the Church in our local papers, guide our Catholics in the various issues which are discussed in the Province, and control the correspondence for the different news centres, would be the duties of this sub-editor.

One central printing plant would be sufficient.  Being a weekly paper, the printing and mailing do not matter much, provided the plant were not too far from the extreme points of circulation.  With the exception of the composition of the specific pages of each issue, according to Provinces, the general overhead expenses of printing and remailing would be the same, and yet we would have a local Catholic paper.  This plan of unification would allow us, without heavy expenses, to answer efficiently the local needs of each diocese and each Province.

We have the “Northwest Review.”  It possesses a splendid equipment and could easily duplicate its actual out-put.  Why could we not take that paper, and have a Manitoba, a Saskatchewan, and an Alberta edition?  The plant is there, and why could not all Catholics take full advantage of it, at a price with which no local or provincial Catholic paper could compete, at least in the present circumstances.  It would require “a subeditor-manager” in each Province to direct the provincial policy of his specific edition and manage its circulation in every Catholic community.  This plan would be workable until the time when success would warrant in each Province a local printing plant, having at its service a “boiler plate” supply from the main office.

The possibilities and opportunities for the Catholic Press have never been greater than they are now.  Never and nowhere has its need been more commanding than it is now in Western Canada.  In this period of social reconstruction, efficient organization and combination of all energies are necessary.  Organization implies leadership, and able leadership needs the support of publicity to create sane opinions, to spread and defend them.

[1] This Chapter was published as an article in the “North West Review,” Winnipeg, June 1st, 1918, under the following caption—­“Timely Suggestions on needs of Catholic Press in West—­Constructive attempt to solve problem which has engaged attention for many years.”