Limestone Democrat, Thursday, April 9, p.2 A VALIANT FAREWELL Journalism in Tennessee loses a worthwhile -member in the complete retirement of W. B. Romine as editor of the Pulaski Citizen, his remaining- interest in which he sold April 1 to Harwood Smith, a native of Giles county, who originally became associated with Mr. Romine last July. In his valedictory Mr. Romine, now 80 years of age and for 47 of them editor of The Citizen, demonstrates one reason why the American press is free and untrammeled; The courage of its editors. Bidding adieu to his readers, Mr. Romine last week wrote: The Citizen has been something like a large family so long I feel that in retiring, a few words of explanation are due the subscribers. I have developed a malignat cancer of the pancreas, which indicates that the end for me is not distant-may be a few weeks, possibly a few months. That is not material. It . comes to all of us sooner or later. A man of eighty has not much life expectancy at best. I am arranging to enter the local hospital within the next day or two. May be there till the end. May be able to get out occasionally. Such a statement could not be made by a man whose conscience was troubled nor who had a vestige of fear in him. It is the same kind of brave declaration as William Ernest Henley's Invictus-a declaration of one who is prepared to meet his fate unflinching. The Citizen passes from the capable hands of Mr. Romine to those of another, younger man who, since joining the staff, has greatly improved its content and appearance. To them both The Democrat extends hearty good wishes!