Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-07-24
THE PRESS.
Its Use as a Factor In Industrial
Progress.

against machinery. Howe, in his at |
empts to introduce the sewing machine,
vas mobbed by irate tailors. Scores of
;elf. binders were burned or otherwise
Injured the first season of their use. The |
miners OF the Hooking Valley success
ully resist the operation of coal-mining
machinery. The introduction of fence
ooms invariably arouses opposition from
The carpenters. Indeed, though this
is hardly manifest as respects
long in use, it is sure to
kindle upon the advent OF almost every
new device, fact which proves the real
existence Of the prejudice. That this re-
pugnance is largely prejudice is forcibly
illustrated in the history of the Press.
Guttenburg, with his printed Bibles, was
prosecuted as conspirator with dab
olus. 1t was supposed that press work
would supercede, if not obliterate clerical
labor, How wide of the facts such sup
position is the history of printing shows.
By the old and tedious process of copy
ing, volume like the Bible rated at
from $500 to $500, in an age, too,
whe labor rated far below its
present compensation. Tie enor-
nous reduction in price of product
has intensified demand in SO much
greater ratio that labor itself so far from
being diminished, has been multiplied a
hundred fold and at advanced rates.
The daily impressions issued from the
press of Los Angeles alone, would blanket
forty acres. If written, the same work
would require force of scribes equal to
the whole population of California work
ing eight hours per dium. So far, how
ever, from lessening manuel labor, the
facts are that under the old system sim
gle written copy OF a morning paper would
cost more than the present annual SUBJ
scription, while if the accessory labors OF
news gathering, editing, proof-reading,
etc., be taken into account, few citizens
of Los Angeles could afford the single
copy. AS regular issue, such thing
as a daily, weekly or even monthly pa
per would be an impossibility. But with
the tremendous acceleration of power un-
der modern appliances, thousand new
demands upon labor are created as well
as the means for its liberal remuneration
Any Just estimate of the influence of
the press upon industrial progress must
center in the primal fact that its infu-
ence alone has made and still makes
possible the conditions essential to such
progress. This fact radiates to every
point of the social horizon.
The centrifugal forces operating to
scatter mankind over the face
OF the earth, the different pursuits,
motives and inclinations natural and
growing out of geographical differences,
the isolation of communities and the
prejudices engendered by it, would soon
disrupt National unity itself, and the
opportunities for concurrent progress it
affords. The very language OF people
loses its unity and breaks away into dia-
lects under such influences. Indeed, in
view of what the press has done to chez
disintegrations, allay differences and
unity effort, but, above all, OF the vantage
ground it has afforded mankind, individ-
by conserving the achievements of an
point for the efforts of another, not only
may it be justly claimed as the Archime-
dean lever and foothold by which the
world is moved; but prophetically, also,
it may be considered seriously as the
principal factor to usher in the good time
coming, the long looked for millennium
when strife shall cease and earth's
golden era again prevail.
The press embraces in the most curl
ously connotative manner of any word in
the language the triple alliance of
science, art, and industry. 1t is all three,
and this explains the peculiar relations
its craftsmen maintain to all others. If
the law is the excellence Of human wis
dom, the press is as much more as
is covered by human wisdom ap-
Piled. Taking as representatives
of this class the newspaper, man,
Bohemian or journalist (neither
term does him justice) there is no other
class or calling 30 accessible as he to all
other classes. Indeed, this is not enough
to say of him. He does not merely pre-
sent portion of his many-sided nature
accessible to every one, his very nature
sends him out among other classes to win
their sympathy, learn their desires, lis
ten to their grievances. and thus, through
understanding all, build up, unite and
benefit all.
l see l have not room in the limits of a
popular article to speak particularly of
the business itself as profession, a fine
art, and trade; nor more particularly
than have done of the manner in which
it builds up the liberal professions.
schools, sciences, and even speculation
nor even how, in the strange stimulus it
first inspires and afterwards gratifies, it
has created line of allied art-trades.
such as lithographing, engraving and
electrotyping. But, passing all these, |
must claim indulgence to speak briefly of
what l consider just here and now the
most important of all, viz: The relation
of the local press to industrial develop
ment in Los Angeles.
The press here, more than ANYTHING
else, prepared the way, organized the
energies and developed the possibilities
for the building of Los Angeles. The
press now, in the infancy and disordered
state of our industries, alone can put in
operation the factors of their develop
ment, expansion and direction. The
press, alone, just now, is doing this.
There are momentous questions Of future |
growth, serious questions of present and
prospective danger, interesting questions
Of means and ends. The press alone, at |
his time, can disseminate the knoyl-
edge, concentrate the attention, Quicken |
he thought and direct the study and the
Effort that shall solve these problems.
Perhaps there is an earnestness as yet.l
lntried which our newspapers can bring
o the subjects; but certain it is that
What they are now doing and willing to
10, cannot fail Of appreciative response