Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-27
A NEWSPAPER CRITIC.

- - . III ~
The editor of the London Daily Mail
precedes his visit to this country by
an article in the North American Re
view on the modern newspaper which
he thinks has not kept pace in devel-
opment with other things in the cen
tury now closing. Editor Harmsworth,
however, pays a special tribute 20 the
American newspaper as being in the
front rank of progress and originality
as far as these have been developed.
Still he sees a vast room for improve
ment even here.
American newspaper men will appre-
ciate the Englishman's good words for
the American newspaper because they
know doubtless better than he does
how they fully deserve them-and
more. For surely the American news
PAPER to-day leads the world as every
thing else American does. American
editors will welcome Editor Harms
worth and accept his little Jolly"
SOOu AulHOI GUY III w nc - -
worth. ever though it is accompanied
by a somewhat patronizing air. For.
bless you, the average American editor
can give the Englishman cards and
spades and still beat him in knowledge
of the subject, and the American
knows it.
Mr.. Harmsworth has some good ideas,
although they are not new to nowspa-
per men on this side, novel though
they may be in Europe. The surpris-
ing thing is that Mr.. H~armsworth. who
seems to have poked his nose above
the fog that enshrouds English jour
nalism, has not e~ndeavored to put in
practice some of his ideas, which are
quite advanced-for a London editor.
Yet the great English newspapers are
the same Old awkward and antiquated
blanket sheets they were about a cen
fury ago. only larger and clumsier. in
stead Of the small, portable and neat
ly indexed publication" which Editor
Harmsworth says the modern news
paper ought to be-and which the
American newspaper more nearly APP
proache5 thar any other in the world.
Editor Harmsworth rightly says the
people want news. And where do the
people get so much Of the news OF the
world in so compact and easily digest
ed shape placed before them at their
earliest breakfast table as in the
United States? Certainly o in Lon
don. where newspapers are often behind
those of the United States in getting
the new of eve the European CONT
nent. The London press has been aptly
described as bulletins OF the London
Stock Exchange. And they are not
very concise or interesting in that ca
pacity, apparently the most important
10 the average Briton, who seems to
view the news Of the world largely
through the medium of pounds, shiIl-
ings and pence. and to look on it as in
teEesting or not according TO its effect
on the prices of stocks and bonds.
rates and discounts. While heaven
knows We in America are sordid
enough. still finance is not the sole
nor the chief handspring Of American
journalism. On a nearer view the lat
ter will be a revelation TO Editor
Harmsworth. who being in a receptive
state should carry hack to London a
head-full of new ideas in practical
newspaper-making.
Cur English visitor is especially out
Of the way in his notions regarding the
newspaper OF the Twentieth Century.
which he describes in these words:
y feel certain that the newsnapar Of
the twentieth century will De drawn into
the vortex OF combinetiOu and centraliza-
ton. In fact. given the man. the capital.
the or IMITATION and the occasion. there
seems 10 be no reason why one or two
newspapers may not presently dominate
goat SECTIONS Of the United States or
almost the Whole Of Great Britain"
While such a condition may easily
came TO pass in Great Britain II never
can in the United States. where there
are individuality and distinct and diff
fe7ent characteristics not only in the
different sections Of the country. but in
every city and town. No one news
paper will ever suit all the people OF
a whole section of this country ever
II it we're practicable, which it certain
" is not, for such a newspaper to con-
tain all the local news of every city
and every part Of that section and TO
be delivered promptly at the breakfast
table as the American newspaper is
to-day. Moreover. combination and