The times., 1899-07-14
About the Newspaper.

1t now develops that former Governor
Stone, of Missouri, who is acting chair
man of the Democratic National Com
mittee, did not make his recent trip to
the East for any Of the political purposes
attributed To him by the gossips. He went
to New York, SO it is substantially report
ed, to interest capital in journalistic en-
terprise. 1t is one of those undertakings
out Of harmony with the journalistic spirit
Of the age, because 1t seeks to establish
big newspaper on strictly partisan po-
litical basis to compete in field already
closely covered by a score or more of great
modern newspapers. whose growth has been
natural and therefore can be accounted
quite as enduring as any human institu-
tion that depends upon its earning capacity
for existence.
Mr.. Stone, il is said, has secured quite
a quarter OF a million dollars, with which
is to be started at Chicago Democratic
newspaper" We wish the enterprise sue
cess, but it will require great deal more
substantial form of appreciation than the
good will of every Democrat in the coun-
try to make the income of the institution
principle, 1t may be well to inform Mr..
Stone of successful journalism. 1t may be
as the Missourian states, that there is now
mo Democratic newspaper in Chicago"
But If this is true his other statement is
| wrong, that there is great field there for
one" II the field were there, MIR. Stone
can rest assured that 1t would be occupied
journalism is neither the stupid nor the
beggarly thing Mr.. Stone and those who
are with him in his commendable but mis-
guided efforts seem to conceive 1t to be.
1t does not go about begging for constitu-
ency. In sense it puts upon the market,
/ just like any other business institution, an
article for sale. II its product is what the
purchasing public wants it succeeds. II it
is not what people want to buy 1t fails.
The journalist, like the manufacturer, con-
suits the needs and tastes of his public
and meets them. By this, of course, is
meant the needs and tastes of the great
majority OF people, which are always ad-
vancing from lower TO higher level.
| What would Mr.. Stone think of the busi-
ness sense of a manufacturer who would
| refuse to adopt the latest improvements
and inventions in his line simply because
| his customers twenty, ten, or five years
ago were satisfied with the article he was
at that former time manufacturing? Mr.
Stone would know that such q manufact-
cause he was foolishly trying to force an
undesirable article upon his customers.
This principle applies to publishing as
strongly as to manufacturing. The moral
obligation is the same and as dominant in
one field of enterprise as in the other
Metropolitan journalism is no longer con-
fined to the narrow channel of partisan
| politics Even the country newspaper is
deserting the old track. 1t requires trained
skill of high order to edit and publish
metropolitan journal. This trait can be
utilized in the attainment OF big results
only through organization. Proper organi-
zation, which means organization that ac-
complishes successful results through the
broad sweep of Its energies, touches 10 one
interest. appeals to no one thought or cult,
but touches every interest, appeals to every
| thought and cult in the domain of its op-
erations. The editorial page of the metro
| politan journal may, for instance, ever so
persistently and brilliantly advocate bimet-
allism or monometallism, expansion or
anti-expansion. but If editorial energy ex-
pend itself upon discussion or If editorial
conviction endeavor to color news happen
ings to conform TO its view. even the class
especially appealed to soon turns from the
newspaper so conducted to one that is man
aged along broader lines. The newspaper
reader can generally be depended upon.
with perhaps little rational aid from the
editorial view of his favorite newspaper.
to form a correct judgment upon any po-
litical issue II the plain facts are placed
before him. To do this honestly and with
out bias is the only political mission of
Journalism. Its full mission is to see that