The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-05


proposition that editorials should be
signed. gives the following reasons why
they should remain entirely impersonal:
80 far AZ editorials are concerned, II In
a. futile a. Il ID unfair 10 hold the writers
responsible for the opinions expressed In
them. The policy Of paper In determined
by tho owner. and he virtually dictates
every utterance published edftorially. N
well call upon = typewriter TO assume la
biiity for the words ana sentiments s,ictat-
I'D BY the real author! The writer Of an
editorial. any more than the ccmpositor
who psts II IN type. does not necessarily
believe In the ideas he II made to ex-
press: indeed. very frequently he holds
viewr Numerically opp0Ate to those Of
his chief, whose orders he obeys and whose
opinions he Is bound TO advocate loyalty
and consistently. The hand lie that Of tho
writer: the voice that Of the proprietor"
This has ELECTED considerable criti-
cism. and the editorial has been con-
demned a. remarkable instance Of ad-
~srsiMng ones own stalltincatlon. The
chief objection to the edfteriai h that It
does not correctly state the case.
II Ia assumed that the editorial writer
must necessarily be better able to de-
termine what view . newspaper should
take than the proprietor. This is far
from being the case. The very best
newspapers and the most influential In
forming and directing public opinion
are those in which the proprietor has
taken the most direct and energetic
part In shaping the policy Of his paper.
Charles A. Dana. James Gordon Ben
nett. Joseph Pulitzer. Henry Grady.
Horace Greeley. Henri watterson, Jo-
seph AcCuilagh. al owned and directed
their newspapers. Scarcely two men
agree upon all subjects and II would be
absurd. and bring newspaper into ridi-
eule. to have its editorial columns In
consistent with themselves.
4 newspaper proprietor selects for
his editorial writer, men who are in
general harmony with his views. He
desires their aid in expressing his
views: he does not throw open his COL
umns to them 90 run them as each one
chooses. They get 10 know the POLICY
of paper. they make II their business
to follow his directions and become the
more valuable an they can be trusted
To steer the course OF the paper under
his direction without his constant SUI
pervision.
An editorial writer becomes like a
lawyer. who adopts his clients view Of
case. he Is like a subordinate officer
who faithfully carries cut his general
plan Of campaign, or like the steering
officer who loyalty guides the ship ae-
coraing TO the captains orders. Ii may
not follow that the officer would have
laid out the same campaign or the mate
.teered the same course. IN the resron-
sihiiity rested with him. but there
could be- no discipline. no harmony. m
| sseesss. IL each one. whenever he af-
fsred with his chief. threw down his
i sword or his pen and decisyea that he
would rot obey because he did no; alto
Eesher agree with the orders given him.
There are many subjects upon which
| there may be honest differences OF onsn.
! ION. ard the trained writer Ia quite
] competent to ra, into forcesai Ian
| ruaxe that ASPECT wARch r. In accord
| with ihe general psnlicy 81 the paper and
/ the vie~ taken by the proprietor. who
I Ia. /, mex; be remembered. the ore wha
/ ss held responsible Ter the Papers pei
| icy. and IL the are &c suffer s~esn the
/ consequences cf q mistaken judgment.
/ THE rssn whe de<-s no. ssree with his
/ pFoaviesor's views ss a, liberty 10 re-
| sign. AS preacher may leave his
/ ghGrca sAcss4 Re hold heretscal views.
/ ar a. arr ether sssan maay rs!tnQassa a
task With which he ss ncs IN sympathy
/ hat - sons as he conttna~s % hold als
/ Responsible Position Il Ia . matter Of
heasr thar Re shall faithfully serve sne
i Interests infrassei 81 hias. and be Is 4
| coward who eansinaes To hr'a that
| place ana pretsaes that he 10 net equally