Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-08-08
Waning Influence OF Big Papers.

this country, taken rs a whole, was "a
fair representative OF the will Of the
people, probably made SO by the prog
ress of evolution which las resulted in
the mammoth city papers Of to-day.
The object then was, except in few
notable instances, more to drift with
popular opinion wherever it might
lead, than TO beat to the windua ard by
the sheer force OF an opposing clement.
Years ago, sentiment that crystal
lied into principles which appealed
to the masses was the main incentive
OF the half score Of leading papers of
the country. They sought and found
circulation by championship of rights
OF the people, but as they became
wealthy, and capital began to recog-
nize them as potent aids for develop.
ment of colossal financial schemes,
they very naturally obeyed the selfish
impulse and became allied with the
power that gave promise OF the most
rapid development in their own field
OF ambition. The marvellous success
OF city papers at once aroused spirit
OF rivalry and emulation, and it is an
easy task for capital to command her
resources when once they are found to
be effective. So the number OF big
city dailies has increased in exact
proportion to the interests of capital,
until now, outside the Hearst papers,
there can scarcely be found city
daily that does not support the pluto
cratic policy of the party which holds
the reins of government. The Journal,
the american and the Examiner, are
excepted, because their owner, with
ample wealth to crafty every want,
brings his strong individuality to bear
in the conduct of his newspapers; in
other words, he is rich enough to af-
ford to be an exception to the rule that
wealth almost invariably develops the
sordid nature OF mankind.
This trend of newspapers towards
commercialism of ideas, has greatly
impaired the Wanted power of the
press. 1t was omnipotent only so long
as it regarded duty as conscientious
trust and approached the considera-
ton of every public question with that
frankness, candor, reason, and a rever-
ance for truth that inspired respect
and commanded support. 1t is be-
ginning to be shown that ideas which
are palpably unreasonable cannot be
made to sway popular sentiment by
bulk and bluff, the main characters
tics OF abnormally developed newspa-
pers.
Fortunately this notable characters.
tic OF modern journalism is handicap.
Very few business men have time to
wade through the many pages of chaff
which must Of necessity accompany
the grain in the hurried preparation of
the daily paper for the press. The
writer remembers that during the war
times of rebellion, when news was as
important as the means for its dissem-
ination was limited, brief summary
which preceded the solid columns of
oftentimes trivial and conflicting de-
tails published by most newspapers,
was priced more than the padded re-
port though diguifisd by the name of
Geographic news.
If it be true that all things have a
elimination before retrogression.
foaming of the wave-crest before it
breaks upon the shore, can we not see
in modern newspaper enterprise q
limit which must be reached unless
based upon something more solid and
real than the venality of an age Of
greed? Already public confidence is
SO shaken in the might Of the lever
that was one said to have moved the
world, that its mightiest efforts are
scarcely discernible in the ordinary
events of life. It is plain that, as a
political force, the metropolitan paper
has passed the zenith of its glory, and
expressions of opinion made by it are
subjected to the ordeal OF calm investi.
cation before accepted as either truth
full or logical.