New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-20
PHILADELPHIA.
THE PRESS OF THE QUAKER CITY.

THE PRESS OF The QUAhEh III
ITS MERITS AND ITS FAULTs-rHE PARADISE OF
CHEAP PAPERs-THEIR ADAPTArIoN TO THE
WANTS OF THE PEoPLE-wOULD A LARGE ME-
TRoPoLuAN JOURNAL PAYf-DEsCRiPfioN OF
THE VARIOUS DAILIEs.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRfBuSEI
PHILADELPHIA, June 12.-The first criticism
a NeyYork Journalist would make the press Of this
city, after CHANGING the pile Of dailies published
here would be that there are too many small cheap
sheets which by their very multitude and cheapness
prevent the establishment OF large metropolitan papers
second observation would probably be that the fhhf
delphia papers, with very few exceptions. limit their
enterprise efforts for circulation TOO much 10
radius OF ten miles Independence Hail. and do not
try occupy field in Pennsylvania and Monterrey
that would seem To be at their command closer Ac-
quainance with the city would lead 10 modifca-
of these views aud would perhaps convince inc
critic that the Philadelphia editors and publishers I'M
dersand the tastes OF the public they cater ior ana
reap success by supplying the people with what they
want while only failure would result from an attempt
70 establish papers OF kind that prosper IN other Cities
WHY PHILADELPHIA HAS NO GREAT NEWSPAPERS
The legion of lowprieed sheet meet the requirements
OF large working class obliged count carefully their
pennies but generally intelligent and DESTROYS TO read
the news OF the day.
There are thous lnds who pay two cents for paper
who would think 1t an extravaganza 10 pay three anu
thousands who dnOrf Dut one cent IoE thc
daily qualification OF knowing something of what Is
going in the world outside Of their workshops ana
homes. Viewed in this light the penny and two-penny
sheets are blessing OF small magnitude As to the
larger papers they have two obstacles 10 contend VIII"
which perhaps account for their unwingness 10 spend
much money in procuring news outside OF the regular
channes-the Associated Press and city reports The first
the fact that in large part OF the territory whch
hey reach with their papers before 10 O'Clock ID
the morning they come in competition with the BIZ
New-YOrk dailies Tao second is certain proVln-
cia feeling in the interior towns OF the state which
makes their people satisfied with small local sheets ana
not nearly good patrons OF Philadelphia papers as
are the inhabitants of towns of similar size IN new
York IN respect the metropolitan daiiies. might
add that there also peculiar conservatism IN Pha-
delpha which leads its citizens to be content with what
is good without demanding something better. III Nae
long been mooted question whether fOuFceht ddHJ
ryaing the NewYOrk papers IN size and news expendi-
would pay here. The experience OF the PhladeF
phia publishers has led them 10 believe it would not
Perhaps under the stimulus OF the Centennial the ex-
pertinent will be tried not by the establishment of new
Iournal-vhich would be toosn-but by the enlarge
meut Of one OF the present morning papers
In the following mention of the different Philadelphia
dailies hope have not omitted any nave Iled 10
lind them all and have faithfully explored the news
stands, but feel little disturbed by the remark OF
friend at my elbow VINO that every time be comes
10 the city he sees paper heard OF before II
will be seen that have said much about the politics
of the different journals In these uncertain times there
are doubt many VINO would not ike to have any par
ticuar party mark put upon them one thlng VIII
venture say however and that that for iner own
saes and Tor the sake OF readers 70 be wished
that more OF them ehancpated from the cOAtfOi
OF the City Ring Nothing takes the enterprise and man
Iiness out vi a newspaper ef.ctua.y dependence
upon official patronage.
VENERABLE SHEETS.
Any notice of the Philadelphia press Viii OF course
begin with the venerable NOrth American and CHttei
Siltes gazette which : pOnderous title stretched
across the blanket folio OF the paper which Il universally
called for short The american 10 IL the Oldest day
newspaper in The United states its daily edition dating
from l7st ana its weekly from 77l one never hears 1t
cried by newsboys and il seldom be found the
pewsdealers stands Nevertheless, there are few bus
ness men in the city who do not read IL regularly in the
morning before they begin the occupations Of the day
Philadelphia II occupies IN many respects the place
Of The Journal AZ Commerce 10 New-York with als diff
ference that 10 is strongly Administrator Republican II
politics, and prints larger amount Of general news and
editorial u i peculiarly the merchants paper.
giving very full reports Of markets and commercial and
financial news while it, advertising columns crowd
ed with the shipping notices end with the announce
ments of nearly all the heavy importing houses, ana OF
the banks and insurance companies.
The Press y the only daily in the city that has ma
tonal reputation, with perhaps Two OF three exceptions,
and must beg to be excused from naming these. Poll
ties il its strong point There is probably 10 man IN the
United States who is thoroughly conversaGl With
national politics and politicians than It's founder
chief editor Col John W. FOrneY HIS long public
vice IN Washington gave him an invaluable training 10
this respect A. PeEn yvana politics, he has them
AZ his hngers'ends He knows the strength Of parties,
the elements that make them up and The active poll
tcans of all sides every county n the state, and Is
himself 30 welLknOwn that there ls not an inseIgent
voter nom the Delaware tue Ohio 20 whom his name
and history are familiar. The Press fights magnlh
Gently in campaign and It's great credit i can be
truly said that II does wait TO consider which Il
likely 10 be the winning side before showing it, cOlors
and setting IA rest TIE gallant battles II nae
fought against nrenched corruption aad wrong IN It's
own party Will long be remembered by honest men
everywhere who seeking 20 reform the alarming
evils which have crept into politics Of late years and
are undermining republican institutions. As
newspaper The Press shows good deal OF enterprise
II has fun and good special dispatches from Washington,
and special correspondence from SewYJrk, and dis
plays faithful editorial work IN Its CONVERSATIONS OF gen
era news crisp paragraphs. i !ts nrst page were
printed in larger type would be more attractive, but
10 do this would have to enlarge It's size or leave out
important news matter Excellent bookreviews. very
full city department. AMI editorial page that IS al
WAYS worth reading other good features OF the paper
The Oldest Of the morning papers, after Tie AOrtH
American is The Inquirer. IL is wideawaze vigorous
sheet tna shows no signs OF age except III the words
under ia heading established IN S-9 ana It fairly
ranks among the three very best two cent daes
in the country The is always presented in fresh.
attractive style the city page covers thoroughly every
thing Of local interest Philadelphia readers and the
editorial page is superior that Of many Gaes OF
pretensions in size and price IN other C;es. IL has
large circulation N both city and country.
ct-Dror-c r-yprputrNr