The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-12-30
WHAT IS THE FIRST DUTY OF A
NFWSPAPER7

can.
Others may have other definitions b
the above definition is constructed upc
the theory that Journalinm bears r.
lasion to public affairs.
That relation is not a true one unleI
: il be founded upon an altruistic basi
No basis Of selfishness ia admissible
dealing with what concerns the publ
in q free country.
After more than twenty-five years {
study of this question this writer ha
come,to the conclusion that IL is publ
duty for newspaper to advocate wha
Il right regardless Of parties.
The frstduty Of a newspaper is TO finC
what is right in public policies and ad
miniatrations, ,fearlessly recognize it, ant
take up the best that men and partie
can do for the people.
The opposite plan OF conducting I
Newspaper is TO uphold your party o.
faction through thick and thin, declare
all they do is right and all that is done
by anyone else or any other party ai
wrong or unworthy.
Instead Of upholding good government
the best measures and good men where
YER found PecksnifIian Journalism can
see nothing good in any man, party or
government not Of its own contrivance.
It seeks a few petty defects, enlarges
them, closes its eyes to the preponder-
ance Of good work done, and. though its
own crowd may have had 3 record blsck
40 burnt clearing, swears 1t was oil
white.
Falrer journalism feels grateful Tor
any steps Of progress made toward bet
ter conditions for the people, lighter
burdens Of taxes, cleaner administration
and higher standards.
At the close Of the year, at the capital
Of our State Government, the JOURNAL
would emphasize these ideas. Il believes
in them aud has tried to put them into
effect in public policies as the first duty
Of q newspaper.
We would make TIE JOURNAL q model
for the people and for other newspapers
We would make the city Of Salem q
model for other cities and the best gov
eTned city in the world.
We would have Marion county model
county government, with program that
every other county might follow with
profit to itself.
We would have Oregon q model state
government IN every respect. To ac-
omplish these ends We are in favor OF
the people using any honorable means
In their power.
Make use OF the hest means at hand
under the lawg and the constitution TO
gain these ends. Use all the political
machinery in existence for good re-
sult.
Make use Of the best men In all
parties TO get good results and advance
what is right.
The JOURNAL has always been free to
support good man wherever II found
him.
II has stood for public officials who
had good program and who had = good
record, no matter 10 what party they
belonged.
II proposes 10 do 30 in the future. 1t
believes that party 10 means, not an
end. There will always be political
parties and partisans.
In the last two presidential campaigns
the party fetish has been badly de-
moralized.
The Republican party itself declared
throughout those campaigns that party
lines counted for nothing compared 10
principles and the cause Of good govern
ment.
The Rockford, ILL.,, Star has the fol-
lowing interesting conclusions on the
subject Of the "party paper;"
1.-THE trend Of the times is toward in
dependence in newspapers, and the evo-
luton is the result Of a popular demand
Tho party organ must uphold its party
In everything il does and denOunce every
act Of che opposition. II the Democrats
hold a meeting attended by 5000 people
the Republican organ must say 1900
were present. On the other hand, II
the Republicans have a parade In which
10000 people take part the Democratic
organ mnst declare that only 1000 men
were In line. II Is not 90 long ago that
party organs refused 70 print speeches
delivered by political opponents. In.
stead Of giving their readers a fair and
impartial report Of the speech, the
speaker was denounced and his areu
ment held up 10 ridicule. The people
became tired Of this and demanded the
news without bias.
''rhe result Is seen In the independent
tone Of the press today. In Chicago
there ia only one thick aud thin dyed.
In-the wool party organ, and il is proba.
bly, less successful than any Of its con-
In the great city Of New
York the Democrats have not q
'ingle paper that will stand by the party
fight or wrong, and the Republicans
have only one 10 rely upon In all sorts OF
Weather, II is the same in Boston,
Philadelphia, and IN fact all the great
iontFes. The party organ has seen It's
lay End is passing away. Intelligent
sadors turn to the independent news
,apers because they want the news and
Iot mere abuse Of men and measures.