The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-26
And Predicts that the Trend OF the
Twentieth Century Will he To-
wards Centralixatfon.,
POINTS OUT PRESENT EVILS
ONE OF WHICH Is THE MULTIPLIC-
ITY OF CRUDE ILLUSTRATIONS.
Another In the Internecine Warfare
That Results i'm One Paper Discred-
iting News Printed by It's Rival.

NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Alfred Harms
Daily Mail. who IS a passenger on the
Teutonic, due in New York tomorrow,
has contributed to the January number
OF the North American Review an article
on what he calls 1.-The Simultaneous News
papers of the Twentieth Century" Mr..
Harmsworth expresses the opinion thar, in
spite CT all the progress that has been
made In the development of the newspapers
hitherto, We are still merely at the fringe
of journalistic development. OF newspaper
illustration he says: Occasional news
paper illustration, IL II can be properly
produced, is no doubt a good thing, and
is appreciated as helpful by the reader;
but many of the present day illustrations
are quite unnecessary, and are merely
given as a matter of habit. because
rival journals use them, or even fo- the
less urgent reasons that there is a certain
amount Of space to be decorated and ar
fists or photographers to be kept occupied.
No daily journal which relies principally
upon its illustrations has been. in any real
sense. an overwhelming success"
Mr.. Harmsworth takes exception to the
hopelessly clumsy shape of the ordinary
newspaper. with the newspapers of the
whole civilized world before me-" he says.
leach week look in vain for any gteat
and impressive stroke of originality or
daring. We still cling to the clumsy and
awkward shape in which our newspapers
are issued, and the man who has attempt
ed to manipulate one of them on a windy
Cay will best appreciate the force of my re-
marks. By the use Of improved machinery
1t would be possible to issue the newspaper
Of the future in what is obviously its
proper fornl-a small portable and neatly
ir dexed publication.
Among the newspapers that are, in my
opinion, now making progress. setting aside
the entire lack of commercial morality, are
some Of the French journals. They have
always been noted for their high literary
excellence. The anonymous editorial has
never been a particularly strong feature OF
the French newspaper. On the other hand
pure literature. in the shape of fiction or
criticism, has been one of It's chief charac-
teristics."
POWER OF THE PRESS WANING.
The power of the press is not what il
used to be is Mr.. Harmsworth's opinion.
This, he says. is especially true of Eng
land. where the editorial. or leader which
was formerly .read and quoted by all men
OF intelligence. is now scarcely glanced at.
The great cry is for news But even In
connection with the dissemination OF news
the press, In Mr.. Harmsworths Judgment,
has lost reputation He says: Lately
there has begun kind OF internecine war
fare between the various organs of the
press by which they very largely injure
their own positions and that of their oppo-
nents. An item OF news published I'm one
paper Is Immediately discredited in anoth-
er. and the public naturally comes to the
opinion that the newspapers are usually
inaccurate. and too often dismiss a per-
fectly correct statement as mere newspa-
per talk.
Mr.. Harmsworth pays a high tribute TO
the press of the United States as being. in
one respect. far in advance OF the press of
his own country. THE question" he SAYS.
what to put before the public. and in what
manner to place II before them, Is one
that calls for the keenest acumen and best
Judgment on the part of the newspaper di-
rector Here undoubtedly the press Of the
United States is In advance OF Great Brit
ain Such newspaper leaders as Pulitzer,
Dana, Bennett. Hearst. Raymond, Jones,
Childs. Medili. Lawson. Russell. Cummings.
CONTINUED ON PAGE & COL -