Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-06-13

the widely accepted plate service. OPP
ened the field to many adventurers
without attachments beficting the edl-
oorlal chair, but itching for It's priv
lleges. power and former Distinctions.
The number OF country pagers was
multlplied--a doubtful blessing when
the limited field OF each Is considered.
Instead of two strong, we'll supported
papers to the county, we. now often
find three, four or FIVE, the larger num-
ber placing cheapness and every crowd
catching device above quality,
one or two endeavoring to follow high
ideals whilecrippled by demoralizing
competition, and all struggling be-
cause of insufficient revenue. Where
before the leading political parties
each usually had one accredited repre-
sentative and independent newspaper
In the county, now party factions have
their particular champions, often with
baleful effect on both press and people,
for under such conditions factional an
imosities blind men to public welfare.
II Is not exaggeration to say that q
multitude of incapables have invaded
the newspaper field, who appeal to the
sympathies. prejudices. or vanities of
the people rather than to sound ideas
of public policy. Their trash has in
many quarters degraded the country
press into a slip-shod record OF trifies,
from which all sense of proportion
and discrimination is eliminated, and
intellectual and moral standards lost
to view.
Before this body of college-bred men
would not be understood as holding
that the graduate Is the only suitable
man for journalism. Many men with
Que college training have honored and
distinguished the country press. But
the newspaper man. to be fit for his
avocation, must be educated in the
broad field of human experience before
he worthily can speak "to the yet un-
knowing world" basis of general
knowledge Is necessary before a man
morally Is entitled to press his convic-
tions upon even limited community
through the powerful medium of the
press.
With stereotyped plates came also a
strong element In weakening the stur-
dy political independence of the old
time country press Adroit political
managers were quick to discern the
plates to be a comparatively cheap and
easy way to control the utterances of
country editors on political questions.
For about fifteen years, during every
state and National campaign, tons of
political plate have been sent free to
the country papers by the party COM
mittees, and much OF ii was coarse and
contemplate. Even editorial plates,
containing loaded matter bearing all
the marks of being the opinions of the
editor, are sent, and country publish
ers are expected to print them or rest
under the suspicion of party disloyalty
at headquarters. For the few papers
that do not use plate the impertinence
of sending printed slips containing po-
litical matter, with the injunction that
1t be used in the editorial column, Is
perpetrated every week by those in
charge of National headquarters at
Washington. Thus, when new prob
lens confront the people that should be
studied and discussed solely as ques-
tions of right and wrong, in the light
of principles thathave guided America
since July 4, 1776, 1t is sought to
shackle the party press of the whole
country by premature expressions
from Washington that naturally can
not reflect truthfully public opinion.
These wholesale invaslons by pollti-
cal managers into the columns former
ly held sacred to the honest thinking
of the editor alone, have had the de-
moralizing effect that might be ex-
| pected. / place the editor who allows
| his prerogatives to be thus trampled
| upon, and who thereby vacates and
abandons his post of duty, in the same
category with the preacher who uses
purchased sermons, or the physician
who surreptitiously doses his patients
with patent medicines
Because of these things respect for a
large proportion OF the country press
has been lessenad, and in the eyes of
modern political generals it has been
degraded to the level of servile tool.
Time was when statesmen waited to
hear the voice of the people through
an independent and unfettered country
press. Now they act, and trust to their
machines to control its uttsrances.
Opinions will vary as TO the extent
to which the msuriant growth of po-
| litical bossism Is Indebted to the COM
mittee management of rural papers,
but l am convinced that 1t has been
largely responsible for it. Party pol
icies cannot be fixed In advance of
conventions. Candidates cannot be
| assured of nomination before
| delegates are chosen. Washing
ton influences cannot determine
the selection of senators and
representatives in Congress prior to
the action of the people, where copn-
try press loyal to Its convictions, un-
susceptible to corrupt inducements.
and Jealous for the rights Of the peo-
pie exists.
In thus briefly rehearsing some of
the conditions that have dehauohed
many country papers, weakened others
and to some extent injured all, / have
hoped, gentlemen OF the Alumni Asso-
citation, that You may apply what has
been said to your own home papers
with profit to all concerned and that
duties may be suggested to you, as ed
ucated men equipped to lead in your
several communities. My task would
be incomplete without reference to
and cordial recognition Of the country
publishers who have successfully re-
sisted all encrcachments upon their in
| tegrity and independence. They, and
they alone, scattered over every state,
maintain what good repute the whole
body enjoys. Their stalwart advocacy
of purity in public life, their regard
for their country and its future, their
fidelity to the people. their loyalty to
the virtues of honest citizenship, their
courageous opposition to dictation
from any other source than the people,
and their refusal to bend the knee TO
any boss, county, State or
ha