Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-02-14
THE NEWSPAPER MAN.
Extracts from Murat Halstead's Speech t
the Wisconsin Editorial Association.

TIE NEWSPAPER MAN.
Extracts from Murat Halstead's Speech to
the Wisconsin Editorial Association.
Once we did not have journalists.
We were editors and reporters. Jour
aalists is word that came into use in
New York City along with the manag-
ing, and assistant manager, night, and
local, and chief, and other editors, and
the elaborate organization of the press
that exalts machinery and reduces in
1ividuality. 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
exclusiveness-agai 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 a serious error. One
neither gains nor loses rights in a pro-
fession. We have the same authority
to speak as editors as we have as citi-
zens. If we use a longer ''pole to
knock the persimmons," because we
have larger constituency for our con-
versational ability, that doesn't affect
rights. 1t simply increases RESPONSE
bility. One can say of meritorious
man or enterprise Or of a rascally
schemer or scheme as an editor the
same that he could say as a 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 common
experience, for there is a 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-
CO. 81 low 4 s,,f,
of the Gospel-that would not be of
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 to
grasp the magic clew of the globe that
spins with us? There is no turnpike
or railroad that leads into journalism.
There are no vacancies for didactic
amateurs. Nobody is wanted. And
yet we are always looking out for
Somebody, and once in awhile he
comes. He does not ask for place,
but takes that which is his. Do not
say to the Young Man there are no
possibilities. There certainly are
more than ever before. Young Man,
if you want to get into journalism
break in. Don't ask how. 1t is the
finding of it out that will educate you
to do the essential thing. The Young
Man must enter the newspaper Office
by main strength and awkwardness
and make place for himself.
The machines upon which we i'm
press the sheets we produce for the
market-and we all know how costly
they are in their infinite variety of
improvements, for the earnings of the
editor are swept away by the inces-
SAINT Unsuitable requirements of the
press-maker-this facile mechanism is
not more changeable than The Press
itself, in its larger sense-and the one
thing needful, first and last. is Man.
With all the changes, the intelligence
of the printer and the personal force
of the editor are indispensable. Each
accomplishment, every achievement,
whether rude Or refined, wrought in
clay, copper, or gold, must bear the
ineffaceable stamp of manhood. Brains
will tell, and aspiring, enduring labor
construct and command.