Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-03-30
THE NEWSPAPER MAN.

THE NEWSPAPER MAN.
Extracts from Murat Halatead's Speech to
the Wisconsin, EDITORIAL Association.
Once we did not have journalists.
We were editors and reporters. Jour
nalists is word that came into use in
New York City along with the manag-
ing, ananssistant manager, night, and
local, and chief, and other editors, and
the elaborate organization OF the press
that exalts machinery and reduces in
We had able editors long
ago, but not great journalists until in
modern days. The journal means the
daily newspaper. and we shouldn't in
discussing the press leave out of con-
sideration the tens Of thousands who
are occupied on the weekly, and semi
weely, and monthly issues Of the news
papers OF this country. Hence the |
propriety OF the larger phrase-the
newspaper man.
We need not guard against ways Of
xclusiveness-against the assumption
that for some mysterious reason the
press have rights that the people have
not; that there are privileges of the
press in which the masses and the
classes do not participate. The claim
OF privilege is serious error. One
neither gains nor loses rights in pro-
fession. We have the same authority
to speak as editors as we have as citi-
zens. II we use q longer ''pole to
knock the persimmons," because we
have a larger constituency for our con-
versational ability, that doesn't AFFECT
rights. 1t simply increases RESPONSE
/. .lbility. One can say of q meritorious
man or enterprise or Of rascally
| schemer or scheme as an editor the
same that he could say as citizen, a
taxpayer, a lawyer. minister farmer
or blacksmith. 1t cOnduces to the bet
ter understanding of our business to
know that we are like other folks, and
not set apart. baptized, anOinted or
otherwise sancti6ed for an appointed
and exclusive and unique service.
Communications from young gentle-
men in or fresh from college or active
in other shops who propose to go into
journalism or newspaperdom and want
to know how to do it are a common
experience, for there is n popular fas-
cinatlon about our employment. There
is nothing one could know-neither
faculty to perform nor ability to en-.
dure-perfection or recollection, thor.
oughness in history, capacity to apply
the lessons OF philosophy, comprehen
sion OF the law, or cultivated intuition
of the Gospel-that would not be o1
service going into newspaperdom. But
it is beyond me to prescribe course
of study. 1t is easier, when you have
the knack, to do than to tell.
Who can tell the Young Man how tG
grasp the magic clew Of the globe tina
spins with usp There is no turnpike
or railroad that leads into journalism
There are no vacancies for didacti'
amateurs. Nobody is wanted. Ant
yet we are always looking out fo
Somebody, and once in awhile h
comes. He does not ask for place
but takes that which is his. Do no
say to the Young Man there are NJ
possibilities. There certainly ar
more than ever before. Young Man
if you want to get into journalism
break in. Don't ask how. 1t is tn
finding of it out that will educate yo
to do the essential thing. The Youn
= Man must enter the newspaper offic
by main strength and awkwardnes
and make place for himself.
The machines upon which we i'm
press the sheets we produce for tn
market-and we all know how cost
:, they are in their infinite variety c
!. Improvements, for the earnings of tn
4 editor are swept away by the inces
SAINT, Unsuitable requirements of tn
= press-mak er-this facile mechanism
= not more changeable than The Pres
" itself, in its larger sense-and the on
> thing needful, first and last. is Mar
With all the changes, the intelligenc
: Of the printer and the personal fore
. OF the editor are indispensable. Fac
accomplishment, every achievement
whether rude or refined, wrought
:, clay, copper. or gold, must bear tn
u ineffaceable stamp of manhood. Brair
), will tell, and aspiring, enduring labe
construct and command.