Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-05
THE NEWSPAPER MEN
THEY ARE TO ASSEMBLE At THE
PARIS EXPOSITION.
GATHERING OF WORLDS JOURNALISTS
Delegates VIII he Invited to state
succinctIy I'm what Particulars the
Journ.I. Of His Country Excel So
That Others May Profit.
,c,orrs.no,asncs o, the pispatch.)


rpon whose busy brains depends, 10
very great extent. the success Oh uhe
Paris Exposition of 1900 Is contained IN
n call that has just been issued Tor an
international OF congress or newspaper
men TO assemble In the building that Is
TO be erected especially for the press
exhibits.
There have been worlds congresses OF
religions and international gatherings
without number of men OF science ppt
! this will be the first time in the history
OF the universe when the leading journal
fists from Occident and orient have gath
cred together to discuss the multiplicity
| of newspaper methods, and out or the
confusion OF q many-tongued congress 10
evolve the ideal journal of the day.
Primarily. the object of the congress Is
the Improvement Of the nineteenth-cen-
fury newspaper. Possibly there VIII De
many editors present who consider, ana
with reason, that the best intenects Oh
generations OF original thinkers nave
| brought the newspaper of which they
have the direction to a pitch OF perlec-
| ton that no exchange OF Ideas can I'M
prove upon. When this was suggested
at the discussion that followed the issu-
ance of the call for the congress IL was
met by the argument that the perfect
newspaper, in the opinion OF the public
at least, had never yet been published.
and. at any rate, the great majority OF
those present at the congress would be
glad to have their methods criticised with
the object of acquiring knowledge.
Thus. the be-spectacled scribe or the
far East. to whom the newspaper OF to-
day is the newspaper that was sultaple
| TO almost forgotten generations, VIII
learn with establishment Of the advance
ment In the art Of gathering Information
of current events for those who desire TO
follow. day by day, the events of the
world far and near. The nimble-witted
land hustling newspaper-men or America,
who think their methods superior 10 any
on earth, will come in contact with Vete-
rams Of the pen, TO whom the hop-sklp-
and-jump journalism IS horror and an
offence. The jerky sentences of the from
tier editor will be compared with the
reverential reviews OF the English parlia-
mentary reporter. and the wisdom OF
both STYLES probed to their depths.
The editors Of the leading cities OF Eu-
rope will hob-nob with dusky natives OF
the great British empire, representing
newspapers whose columns are filled with
cabalistic signs; the scribe from far-on Icy
Greenland: the learned editor whose pa
per is printed in the Arabic; the censor
ridden Journalist Of the Sultan's domain.
the nervous little representative or the
Mikado's empire, eager 10 be up-to-date
and anxious to learn OF his white breth-
rem Of the pen; the staid German; the
Hindoo. learned in mystic lore; the Sy-
rian, closely in touch with ancient riddles
that the world would give much to see
/ ha age
through fear of the powers that be; jour
nallsts speaking in strange tongues, and
writing in queer-looking characters, YET
commanding respect from the representa-
tives of younger centuries. on account OF
the reservoir OF knowledge In the intel
lect Of these grave eastern scholars-al
will minyle i'm the great congress or
terms of comradeship.
II is to be as representative a gathering
as foresight and energy can make IT, The
call has been made in such a way tha
; every editor invited will see that his pres
! enco is imperative IL journalism
, enced for the better. II IS hoped
by the American newspaper-mar
who thought out the idea that the gath
ering Of the newspaper-men of the world
will have an immense influence on, no
{ alone the profession of letters but on tn
l future history of the universe. THE pei
2 is mightier than the sword" is the tex
: of the argument OF those who set fortl
2 the incalculable benefits that will COM
from this congress. Tose who will at
g tend Il are men who WELD more poten
T influence on the destines of nations thai
the princes Of the earth. inasmuch a
Q they are the moulders of public opinion
I and have it largely I'm their power Z
c shape the policy Of diplomats in who's
p hands Is the choosing between peace o
: war.
+ The possibilities that are merely out
> lined in the call for the congress. whic
Is signed by the originator of the idea
Q Mr.. Arthur Leslie, editor and propreto
OF a newspaper syndicate, representa-
} the leading newspapers of American
= very numerous and important Unles
= the gathering is a very conservative one
v which would be equivalent to saying tina
Il Il would lack the freemasonry spirit o
) the profession, which would be an i'm
y possibility, there will grow out Of the con
: gress a great, worldwide organization G
o newspaper-men. a vast journalist
c brotherhood, which will be the most pow
erful organization that has ever bee
: known, a giant among fraternal societie:
l. The subjects suggested for discussio
y include: as an Ideal Newspaper Poss
5. ble?" How Does the Congress View tn
l. American Newspaper Methods, as Con
(, pared With Those OF the Old World?
l. what Qualifications are Necessary
y journalistic Success in the Various Cour
= tries OF the Earth? what Constitute
l. Legitimate, Printable News, in the Opir
" Ion of the Congress?' 1.-THE Future
the Fourth Estate" Are Newspaper
n men Underpaid?" Each nationality wi
lie be invited TO summarize the points
10 which the journals of the country repr'
II sonted excel. so that all may profit by II
n wisdom OF the various Journalists.
The idea Is an especially welcome or
ID 10 the authorities, for the reason that
. is seen that the exposition will benef
,e greatly from the attendance OF so mar
Id clever writer's from the four quarters
IL the earth, who will be sending home a
"a counts of the doings of the exposition
4 and so spreading the fame OF the gre;
Of show.
"a The newspaper OF to-day is recognize
o. a. one of the greatest forces in civilzi
~ ton. and, now that the idea has bee
~ originated. every one Is prompted to sa,
- 'Why was not such an important pla
+. suggested before?' There are upwar,
of 1000 newspapers published in Il
r world, and millions OF men are employ'
I'm their publication. That such va
army should be unrepresented at the e
position would be an objectionable owe
- sight.
y Among the leading papers TO whom Il
y call has been sent are the Times. Dai
" Telegraph. Daily News, Daily Ma
.s STANDARD. Globe, Pail Mall Gazette.