Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-30

| Rlish and German, e1ceeus 1"UO copies
| perienced afidavit-makers are constantly re-
9gLred to get the PuSafc OF the oeeasoe ossoe II
| is comforting to know that the newspapers are
equal to them and that there rs nos
| ever dropping or stopping, SO long as single
unexpended cipher in the ARABIC system Of nota-
iargement Of the territory in which the Pittsburg
papers are read In the old days the city was the
Now the Pittsburg papers go every morn
ina and evening in packages ranging from
possession possess Of western Pennsylvania. Eastern
Day in and day out they preach the common in
terests OF Pittsburg and Of this whole vast, popu
in ali lines Of business familiar with the names
and inducements of our merchants and manu-
cannot be overestimated in bringing to our home
market that splendid trade which has already
business among the cities Of the United States.
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
But it is in the methods and machinery for the
making of the newspaper that the most astonish-
ing changes have occurred. In the old days the
Associated Press WAS the sole source Of news from
abroad-and that meager one. Now special
telegraph wires 20 into every Pittsburg news
paper ONCE; and their special correspondents
CLEAN the whole globe for whstever may interest,
instruct or pro6tAbly entertain. In the old days
the local staffs Of all the rapers combined scarce
numbered ten writers; certainly not score. Now
the Press Club has membership OF nearly 20.
In the old time the reporter If expected, like
Puck, to girdle the earth in 10 minutes-or; ike
Nellie Bly, in n GSssmwas bound s1erT to
thing that happened In the Old City, on
the southside, in Allegheny, LAwrenceyille and
orous pedestrianism, compared with which the
modern walking match is mere gentle eSnstitu-
bureau and the era of special assignments. In
word the local man Of 70 years ago was Court and
Reporter. Proof Reader. Special Writer, Sporting
Editor, Banquet Editor; CITY Editor, Assistant
Poet and ParSgrsphist all rolled into one har-
monious unc6nmonlv active. and, from the busi-
That this is no fancy sketch can be attested by
some old-time reporters, who nave miraculously
Iaren. subseouentfy took orders and rose TO high
dignities in the church. and several others who
went to law, and are at this day honored and sue
cessful practitioners at the Allegheny County
Bar. Itwould be superhuous to say that the more
provement: for. while the workers have multi
piled, intelligence industry and unremittinE zeal
Still continue the Characteristic of the reporters OF
the Pittsburg press to a degree which can truth
fully be said gives them pre-eminence over the
craft of any other city in the United States or
elsewhere
THE REAL PROGRESS.
Itwould be idle here to attempt to indicate,
even in the most cursory way the development OF
Pittsburg Journalism in the particulars Of mere
material growth, the enlargement of its mechani-
cal facilities, the extension of its business and
other related phases of the subject. Nor is that
specially interesting. 1t is after all but second
airy feature in true progress in Journalism. The
real progress-the progress alone which is worth
commencing or celebrating in any public way, is
in the quality, purpose and influence upon the
public of the contents Of the neWspapers: It's
by whom, which does or ever can a1ord any ten
able ground for felicitstlon. Pittsburg Journal
ism has improved in this respect just as the COM
munity itself has broadened In the scope OF Its
mental activities: As science art new industries;
extension of local and national commerce and
questions of grave and absorbing interest in leg
islation, political economy, religion, literature
EST from the people SO the Journals of the day have
found a vast quantity Of newer and Worthier ma
former times. Much might be said on this subject,
but il is endless. One proposition. however, de-
is idle ever to expect the newspaper to
surpass transcendently and continuously the limi-
and II reneralIy does keen well in advance but it
cannot run wholly out of the sight, sympathy and
understanding of its readers. Hence 1t is, that
when the conditions of a community are such that
affairs of 20 large import occupy the daily life
poitation of the petty and trivial, while the
verse is no less true that when community grows
as that of Pittsburg has grown in material and
mental range and resources the newspapers If
that community quickly exhibit corresponding
and commensurate Improvement The petty per-
sonsiities. the fnconseduentiai incidents. which
merely NIL space in paper and often but Rratl1y
yagrsnt ana s1I tSe ssirs Which
belong 70 the development of the locality, of the
State and Of the nation obtain the greater promi-
1t may not become us TO say it. but others admit
the fact, that the Prtsburg papers are equaled by
few in general interest and absolutely surpassed
by none in the land. And indirectly this is the
highest 6PPW noser move eans the
presses. or how more imposing the afhdayits of
circulation Il there had been no progress IN tnis
ing would be but barren and unreasonable
mockery.
A PROUD STANDARD.
Finally, it is not merely in the quality Of the
task to be discharged in the facilities for dis
charging it that Pittsburg journalism has ad-
yanced, but also in the establishment with all
classes of the public OF q better understanding Of
the legitimate functions Of the newspaper and Of
the spirit in which these functions are exercised.
In the nature OF things an atmosphere Of sweet
ness and light cannot always surround the rela-
tions between the press and each individual citi-
zen: hut it at least now well understood that
though the utmost enterprise is exhibited in pre-
senting all such news as is of common utility and
concern, there is equal care to avoid wanton or
offensive intrusion upon affairs which may rightly
be considered private. 1t also is known that the
newspapers are in no sense q medium for the eX-
preston of the mere personal or peculiar prefer
ences or resentments Of the men who make them;
but that their earnest and constant aim is to look
At matters from public standpoint; to be impair
TAI and truthful in their reports; and in their
comments to display such intelligence, candor
Tbe 1Re pges In short IS NO ambush from which the
malignant or cowardiy may shoot anonymous
darts at the objects of their personal in-wili 1t
is on the contrary the open forum which is al
ways accessible for the decent and orderly and re-
sponsible discussion of every question which occu-
pies the public mind or affects the public inter-
such we are proud to think, is the standard Of
sh al swing always for the highland ever in the
direction OF the highest and best sort Of Progress
in Journ alism.h
THE LADIES.
Percy F. Smith responded to the toast 1.-THE
Ladies'" His address was a beautiful eulogy
Of the fair sex and he referred in feeling
manner to the lady members of the club He
hoped that the next banquet would see them
present at the festive board where they had
q right to be alongside their brothers. He said:
Woman WAS q sweeter radiance than the stars:
her sphere was boundless; the name of woman
pleasure, for it instantly connects the thoughts
with the endearing words-mother, sister, wife,
shine the most precious treasures men possess.
Woman made the home beautiful, her presence
the family table: she wrote her name in kindness,
love and mercy on the hearts of Thousands she
ten. Their name, their deeds will be as legible on
the hearts they leave behind as the stars In
heaven. A sweeter radiance because their lives
are as pure as fresh snowfelds. where there foot
steps leave marks but not q stain.
THE VETERANS.
Major E A. Montooth spoke on "The Vet
erans" He recounted the many heroic deeds
of the brave men who fought, bled and died
for their country. He said they set an ex-
ample to the youth of the country who. he
thought, would show themselves to be as
worthy as their fathers should they have oc-
casion to do so. He also paid high tribute to
the Confederate veterans whose eyes. he said
filled with tears as they gazed upon the Amer
ican flag.
Hon. Thomas Ewing President of Common
Pleas Court, replied to the toast "The Bar"
He thought the press and bar should dwell in
unity on account Of the close associations ex-
isting between them. He said:
When member Of the bar feels that the press