The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-07
THE MopBREN NEWSPAPER.

teemed Col. Alexander K. Mcclure has re-
tired from active journalism. He began
with the beginning of the Philadelphia
Times, and had the satisfaction OF seeing
it grow TO be one of the greatest and
most influential newspapers in the coun-
try. In compliment to Col. Mcclure the
newspaper men of Philadelphia the other
evening gave him a farewell reception and
banquet. During the course of the
function he made an address upon his ex-
periences in the newspaper field, and COM
mented upon the newspaper as it exists
to-day. Than Col Mcclure there is prob
ably no man alive more competent to
treat the subject. He has grown up with
modern American journalism and helped
10 make it what it is.
Fifty years ago the newspaper was a
| luxury, enjoyed only by a comparatively
few persons. Publishers printed their
| papers and piled them on counter in the
office. The subscribers went or sent for
them. There was no delivery system. The
news was sometimes weeks in reaching
the publication office. by the slow means
of the stage coach and the letter mail. If
an occurrence of importance in Charles
ton or Savannah was reported in Philadel-
phia papers in a week It was a noteworthy
achievement. Now the daily paper is
| necessity to all classes of citizens. Its
field of information Is the world, and by
the perfected system of delivery the news
Of the world for the twentyfour hours
preceding is laid by the breakfast coffee
cup of the subscriber.
With lightning transmission of news
from thousands of correspondents, with
| high-speed machine composition putting
tho dispatches into the metal for printing
for turning out printed papers, the guiding
minds in the editorial room must of neces-
sity work at high speed. Hundreds of sub
! jects are handled every night in news
articles or communications written by
| different persons. Judgment must be
passed upon each item. If there is a
! question with respect to any, the decision
must be instantaneous; and 1t must be
correct, or trouble is likely to follow.
There is no time for bordering the mat
ter. The judge, the lawyer, the doctor or
other professional man has all the time he
wants to study and weigh his subject. In
the rush of daily newspaper making the
editor must decide at once. The opportu-
mites for error are great, but the number
| of errors made is relatively small
Journalism" said Col. Mcclure is often
| criticised for recklessness but there
are few indeed outside of the profession
who understand the care that is exercised
to assure fidelity to the public, and the
generous charity with which news is
halted at times in every well-regulated
newspaper office, by which the guilty
often escape just punishment TO shield
the innocent from needless sorrow.''
In former times the newspaper was a
reflection of an individuality. Thus Hor-
ace Greeley was the Tribune, and the
Tribune was Horace Greeley. One of the
keenest brightest writer's on the old press
was George D. Prentiss of the Louisville
Journal. But the day of individuality in
journalism has passed. There are no
great editors standing out prominently
to-day. Col Mcclure says, for the simple
reason that there are so many great
editors that they have ceased to be a
novelty. There is hardly first-class pa
per in America but has its counter
parts of both Greeley and Prentiss in the
editorial department. In short, 1.-THE
newspaper of to-day is greater and
grander because it is vastly greater and
grander than any individuality"
The modern American newspaper has
been called sensational Col. Mcclure ad-
mits that there are sensational newspa-
pers in the country but they are except
ions and not types. Indeed is there any
great calling which has not within its
membership those who pervert and prosti-
tute that calling? Take the pulpit. the
law, medicine, and business circles, are
they not affected with sensationalism to a
degree, and to as large degree, If not a
larger one, than the newspaper press?
Discounted by all it's defects" says
Col Mcclure, the American newspaper
of to-day that fairly represents American
journalism is the greatest and best news
paper the world has ever produced. Par
tisan and general disputation in our news
papers is ten-fold more dignihed, courte-
Gus and tolerant to-day than II was in the
days of Washington and jefferson, or
Jackson"
1t is vastly to the credit of Col. Nc
Clure that he has been a potent factor In
raising American journalism to it's high
plane.