The Republican journal., 1900-08-02
MADAME VALE,
WOMEN AND NEWSPAPERS

in the development of daily journal
| ism, which proceeds rapidly and along
| lines covering the affairs of the world
fully each morning, the influence of
| women is more important and more
powerful than might be supposed at a
superficial glance. A hundred years
ago the editor of a daily scarcely
thought it worth while to reckon with
women as an active element of support
The governmental and diplomatic news
of the day, with political leader. We're
the main ingredients of an issue. \
few condensed paragraphs related to
local news and only exceptional social
events were considered worthy of men,
ton. Benjamin Franklin frightened
his columns with communications on
everyday topics and frequently wrote
them himself to insure a keen point
and an easy, animated style. But even
the newspapers with which he was
connected were gravely concerned with
political and business matters. His
wife was a woman of strictly domestic
tastes, probably not numbered among
his regular readers, and disposed to
look on printing and editing as a craft
for men ike other trades of no particu-
tar interest to her sex.
Far INTO the present century the gen
eral view prevailed that newspapers
must be made for men, for statesmen.
politicians, merchants, mechanics. spec
ulators and voters. So faras feminine
element was introduced it was with a
sense of indulgence for the playful side
OF serious vocation But a generation
or two ago matters began to change. 1t
was even discovered that women could
write political leaders and put a vigor-
Gus mark upon politics of State For
many years Harriet Martineau was
among the most influential writer's von
the London press This faculty. or
prediction, among literary women is
sui rare, but Its existence has been
proved. The time has long since passed
When the name of a woman attached to
newspaper article eXciteS surprise
Ana as women have progressed in news
paper work they have also advanced as
newspaper readers. The reader is a
critic and to certain extent an arbiter
IN newspaper evolution. BY taking an
interest IN the press women have be
come one of its main shaping forces, and
the editor who thinks to ignore their
tastes or defy their standard finds HIM
self out OF balance with the times and
filling a long persisted want.
1t Is with great pleasure that this
journal received a communication from
the mother of four sons who wrote to
say that she makes the filobe-Democrat
part of their education and that.she
can do this without censorship. A
speaker at the recent Woman Suffrage
Convention in Washington remarked
that this paper prints no sensational
matter and speaks always of women
with respect. These are highly valued
words. If all papers were filled with
sensation, with matter calculated to
catch the fancy or curiosity of the
buyer rather than to state the truth
about current history and opinion they
would be poor and dangerous material
to admit to the circle of the family. In
telligent and conscientious women are
putting their impress upon the news
paper world both as patrons and writ
ers, and it is gratifying that such is the
case. The newspaper is no longer
addressed to half OF mankind. 1t goes
to all and is expected to present com
prehensive survey of events and themes
OF moment to all. The appreciation of
women has become as necessary to
sound newspaper success as the sup
port OF men. st. Louis Globe-Demo-
GRAFT