Evening journal., 1902-05-31
BilIParSOn'S SCoIumn
Published Now and Then.
The Press, From the Inside

HC Coor tOill tlNG tIlSlQG
There are three great agents, more
than an others. which make for public
intelligence and morality They are the
church, our schools and the newspapers.
The first finds it's supper. in the volun-
tary contributions of its followers and
admirers; the second is supported by
public taxation and the gifts of the be-
nevDlent, while the press lis left to fight
its own BATTLES, being regarded as a busi-
ness institution that must be allowed to
shift for itself
The church has for its object the re-
demption Of the world from sin, and its
purpose is primarily the dissemination of
religious truth which carries with IL as
matter of course, moral teaching. In
our system of educaulon, religion pri-
marlly finds no place. The war of creeds
has necessitated "A separation Of church
and State, and this leaves 10 the edu-
Gator a field wherein the intellect Is su
preme and morals are taken largely as
matter of course.
But what sphere of usefulness does the
press fill? Ask the average reader and
he viii probably answer that 1t furnishes
the gossip and the sensations which oc-
cupy the attention Of the readers for a
few moments in the day. The answer
shows superhdality that is common
and regrettable.
Ihere are two theories in the newspaper
world. The modern idea is concerned
with giving the people what they want.
and as apparently most OF them love
sensations. these are worked into
every possible form. There are more read
ers who are poor, and consequently every
article is worded with the purpost
of exaltlng poverty and in denunciation
Of wealth. With these journals success
is held as crime. corporations are rep
resented as a species of organized cruel
~, and government is made TO appear,
at best. as a necessary evil.
But this class OF journals does not rep
resent newspaperdom at its best, nor
does it give a picture of the normal con-
dition of the press. Behind most news
papers is a policy which is based on con-
vction OF moral truth, and a determin-
alton TO u.ter it
1t is frequently said that the news
papers print the kind Of news the people
want. Il isn't true, at least it isn't
true Of a vast majority of our journals.
The ideal is not always high. but 1t is
above the average Of that Of the general
reader. As a master Of fact. the reader
himself demands something that ts su-
rerior to mis- own standards
! a clergyman who would preach a
morality that is on a par with the daily
lives Of his congregation would not be
tolerated; and newspaper. too, while
it must n0s assume a plane above the
Intelligence of dts readers, must yet in
addition to sts news have a tendency to
intellectual and moral elevation.
Tha average reader has an idea that
the editor, sends his reporters out to get
the news and publishes pretty much
everything that they turn in. One hold
ing these views should spend few days
in busy Office to be disillusioned. The
reporter selects. and the editor selects.
until when the paper goes to press, what
is rejected would make a respectable
paper, as far as space is concerned.
The newspaper man rarely gets credit
for what he does. A thousand items come
foating in which as news items have
minor value. but which would wound in
nocent parties. IT becomes the duty Of
the newspaper man to decide their fate
in a moment. He may think the public
has sufficient interest in them to warrant
their publication, or he may regard the
feelings Of individuals as superior. But
there is no length Of time to decide, as
the minutes pass and the paper must be
gotten to press
A newspaper aims TO hold up mirror
to the events of the world, in order that
men may see them in their proper set
ting If this is gossip. then let us not
forget that these bits Of gossip, sifted
and arranged, are printed in our books
and we call them history Many Of our
greatest in.ellects have had their chief
reading confined to the newspapers.
1t is no mean education that one may
gather from reading the columns of
daily paper through a course Of years
p He has a panorama of history while ii
Is in the process Of making. He finds
items concerning art. philosophy and lit
erature. lie views the events Of di-
plomacy. and profits by reading editorial
2 discussions from the pens Of masters.
There are as profound utterances In
u the editorial columns of the great dahhes
- as may be found in books OF eehlcS diiu
philosophy. for are not scholars and DIP
- lomats nning our editorial chairs?
And all this wealth Of Information Is
brought to our very doors for penny
There are 40 subsidies; the PAPER sink
or swims according to its ability Ia
keep its head above the wave, whthou
even a rope being thrown TO It. II ther'
Is a happening in Europe or in Chin
& this morning the paper must have II
Is there a great crises the paper mus.
instantly express a policy that dt cal
consistently maintain.
N II rs Interesting, too, to listen TO TN
criticism which comes from disintereste'
friends. Some say. give more attention
J. to local news: no one cares for Europea'
happenings" Others say, give us IN
"a important news Of the day; we don't car
of for local gossip" Then there is the ma
e. who regards news as the chronicle G
tsporiing matters: a few like philosophers
I'd disauisitions. and so It goes.
. The fac. is that every good paper con
- .,e,.. ,,.,r, tba, any one porson IS saX