The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-30
Lines to a Contemporary.

Gradually we are finding out the
conception of a modern newspaper as
it is entertained. and, we doubt not
vastly so, in the editorial rooms Of
our still esteemed contemporary, the
Minneapolis Journal. 1t is a curious
and interesting study. 1t has the va
riety of the kaleidoscope and the de-
lights Of an army composed wholly of
brigadiers. We have noted the various
eXempliications of this conception as
they were worked out from time to
time, and have considered them suffi-
GENTLY novel in the newspaper world
to warrant remark. We confess to a
little surprise that our comment upon
these manifestations has not been re-
ceived by the Journal in a manner that
indicates qualification for the compli-
ment implied, ifcnot expressed, in our
recognition of its innovation on the
customary concept of a newspaper. It's
latest retort seems to convey the idea
that no paper is a newspaper that is
not operated after the Journals own
plan, an idea which, if sound, leaves
that paper the only newspaper-of the
kind-in the land.
We observe three factors in the
Journals plan Of newspaper. There
are, item, a manager; item, an editor
and item, a Washington correspondent
When the manager joined other Mime
apolltanS in message to the president
urging him to desist from war with
Spain, and the editor with his wifes
hat pin, was prodding the president into
war, 1t became clear that the manager
did not manage. When the Washing
ton correspondent commented on the
folly OF going into war without prep
aration, and the editor in the same is
sue, went into rhapsody on the mar
Vicious preparations made for the war,
it became obvious that the editor did
not edit. We had the temerity to make
comment on these illustrations of the
Journals plan Of newspaper making
as they were presented, with the re-
suit that we get in return some Zines
on contemporary" the pith of which
is that The G b is not a newspaper
because it is not like the Journal. We
admit the explanation, but must de-
muir to the conclusion.
We gather from the lines our con-
temporary addresses us that the
scheme of the newspaper in the two
offices differs mainly as to what is
news Evidently the Journals scheme
admits into the realm Of news the
opinions of it's correspondent, his sur
misses as to motives, and his guesses
as to what is to be done and why il
is done. In the particular matter on
which these Zines" are based the cor
respondent had said: ''The folIy of be-
ing unprepared for everything had
come home so strongly to the admin
istration during the past few months
that 1t is without doubt the intention
of the president to at once lay the
foundation of large and we'll drilled
reserve force" This passes for news
in the Journals scheme and is EXEMPT
from the editorial blue pencil. We fail
to scent the news. The folly is as the
correspondent admits, months old; the
purpose of the president is not stated
as news because it is unknown, merely
surm1sed by the correspondent to be
without doubt" He was merely guess
ing. So we have in this novel news
paper scheme an editor expressing yerv
positively an opinion which he permits
his correspondent to as positively con-
tradict with his opinion, and the ed
itor passes up the opinion of his cor
respondent as news. Without any de-
rarture whatever from the regard The
e o b e has for news, even if it con-
fiicts with editorial views, we still in
sist, in spite Of these 'lines on a con-
temporary" that it must be news and
not opinion. The G o b e keeps them
separate and in their respective de-
partments; the Journal mixes them.
Its manager does not manage, nor does
its editor edit.