The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-02-10
ooLLEols AND NEWSPAPERS.

| Editorial Association was maue l"NV'-
esting by the addresses Of the presi-
dents OF the two universities. prs'
Jordan and Wheeler Each gave his
views about the function OF the press,
and each was in his way Interesting
and instructive. The press has become
a mighty factor in our modern life and
has come to deserve study, "a an in
stitution, force that affects the
actions Of men, ANA to degree in
fuences the destiny Of nations When
ever anything appears in the world
that influences the relations of men
and Of nations, it becomes the subject
Of scientific investigation. The press
has reached that point 1t does good
and it works evil. Like the old myth
OF the prince Of the powers of the air.
it has benefits and harm TO dispense,
and they fall upon individuals and the
community.
The good and evil done by news
paper depends upon the one will that
guides and controls it and fixes its
policy. This will may in some cases
be the aggregate mind Of an editorial
council. but, if 50, the aggregation Of
views must b. brought to unity. or
the control may be one mind only.
There can be no newspaper success,
nor influence, if the paper be lacking in
this unity Of control
DR.. Wheeler. in his address 20 the
country editors, seemed to 60 searching
for an analogy between the newspaper
and the college. In doing this he
nouted the idea of one will controlling
the policy Of a paper or a university.
and spoke vaguely Of the freedom, aca-
demic and Journalistic necessary to
the success and usefulness of the press
and the college. From the newspaper
side Of it the analogy is unreal and i'm
possible. The newspaper has a double
function-to print the news. and infu-
ence public opinion by its editorial ex-
preston. In this latter office the press
is an educator, and therein the press
takes rank with The teacher
But the most successful educators
among American newspapers have been
those founded or controlled by men
who have felt the impulse Of a mission
in the world. and have chosen to
preach and teach it through the col
umns Of a newspaper
BENJAMIN Franklin was the first
American journalist Of that kind. He
felt it his mission TO impart phiIoso-
ply, thrift and economy to his coun-
trymen, and did it as the owner and
editor OF the Saturday Evening Post.
After him soma time passed before
another journalist philosopher appeared.
II is true that Fenno. in New York
CITY. and the old Telescope and Ca
zette and Timepisce ftfuny fulfilled
! the educating function Of the press.
but a clos examination does not con-
vince that such was the master mo-
tive Of Fenno and those publications.
But when Greeley. appeared with the
Tribune as his organ, there began the
most wonderful education Il the Amer
lean people ever accomplished by one
newspaper. Yet it was th- work Of one
man. the impression Of a single will.
When his two disciples. Henry J. Ray
mond and Charles a. Danna. left him
and went. one 10 the Sun and the
other TO found the New York Times.
though they became personal and bus
iness rivals Of Greeley they followed
his method. As long as Raymond lived
the Times taught edtorially his be-
lief Of things and his view Of politics
and "the little villain" as Greeley
called him, never departed from that
method to the moment Of his death on
the doorstep Of his offic- So II was
with Dana The Sun shone in the re-
hected light Of his intelligence and his
malice until bo.h We're qu-nchad in
his death.
In like manner tile New York Herald
was the creature Of the will Of the
elder Bennett. and among the modern
press, in the newer cities, the Chicago
Tribune was the classroom IN which
Joseph Medn taught. and the Times
was the school set up in Chicago by
Wilbur F. Storey. The news in a