The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-06
THEIR HoNoRs SMILE, TOO.


former managements and the present
proprietors proposed to make it so when
they took hold. The unfortunate career
of THE News under the management Of
its previous unfortunate owners, one of
whom was Mr.. French, was sufficient
to demonstrate the wisdom of change
without much fooling. SO changes ere
promptly made. For one thing, the price
was reduced and the paper having been
improved Mt the same time there has
ensued circulation and a business
prosperity that this newspaper never
before knew. As Mr.. French truly
says, no newspaper can de-
pend upon political support for success.
For that matter il cannot depend
upon any kind OF support, unless 1t
merits it. The conduct of a newspaper
property is not different from that of
any other business. Sympathy Is help
full, but the newspaper must give it,
readers their money S worth if it is going
to keep and retain support.
Mr.. French affirms that the former
failures of The NEWS "has been due TO
lack of nerve and intelligence
on the part Of the political
hackers, not to lack Of ability on
the part of the managers" This doesn't
sound modest, but from an acquaint-
ance with Mr.. French The News is dis
posed TO admit that it is probably true.
The point of interest, however, is as an
illustration of two ways of establishing
a newspaper. Mr.. French and his as
sociates depended upon the nerve and
intelligence of political bac1ers"
they didn't get-rather than upon the
managerial ability, which Mr..
French says they did have. The
new NEWS started in quite another fash
ion. The present managers don't claim
more ability than the results of then
enterprise make clear, but what they
have they are relying upon for success,
and are not looking about for anybody
else's "nerve and intelligence" TO make
mp for possible deficiencies. They
started in this way and the result
seems TO indicate that it is the
better way. I ere has, since the new
management took hold, been little "cool-
ness of the public" toward the new
NEWS. Indeed, the response TO its
efforts TO make a good newspaper for
ONE CENT have been more gratifying
than the new proprietors had hoped for.
The News is daily made conscious that
no newspaper in Rhode Island has more
of the confidence and esteem of business
men and readers
Its circulation is not "limited" as it
was under the former methods of man
agement pointed out by Mr. French. for
some 10000 people are now buying THE
NEWS every evening for ONE CENT,
and the great proportion of them of
course read no other paper. Neither is
its business prosperity restricted F" in
the sense that Mr.. French would sug-
gest.
Finally THE News, under its new
management, is not Republican for
revenue rather than for principle" 1t is
of coarse Republican and in sense "for
revenue" Newspaper publishing is not
designed TO be a philanthropy, but TO
make money the same as any other
business. The opening for third news
paper in Providence was only possible to
Republican newspaper. TIE majority
of Rhode Islands citizens are Republi-
| cans and yet in the chief city
| of the State there has until re-
| Gently existed no Republican news
paper Of any influence or prestige.
are printed for something besides poll
| tics, and the present managers of THE
| NEWS aim to make "A modern news
paper. To this end they have engaged
the best staff OF reporters in town
and have acquired the franch of
| the Associated Press, the greatest
news gathering organization in the
| world. In politics, Of course, Tn
NEWS is Republican as it has always
been, because in politics that is its field
of demand. Mr.. French errs, thodgh, in
stating that THE News is today II rab-
lica,- for revenue MT the sacrifice OF
| principle-whateve reasons NAV
| have shaped its policy under
his management HIS error is
perhaps not unnatural in as much as he
himself left the managing editorsb'p OF
the Democratic Telegram to take charge
of the Republican News, aud the pres
ent owners are graduates of the remo-
cratic journal. The present manage
meut of THE News. however, is Re-
publican bred in the bone and
has never been anything else. their
former positions on The Journal
having nothing 20 do with the
political policy of that paper.
II they were engaged in running candy