The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-05
THE EDITOR CANNOT ADVOCATE.

about the value of the editorial depart
ment of newspaper. Some commercial
newspapers, edited from the counting
house, have SO brought down the editorial
page from it's high estate, that some have
advocated the abolition of the editorial
page altogether. If all editorial pages were
dictated by interested corporations, it
would no doubt be better if the editorial
page could be eliminated. But fortunate
ly, most papers are edited by men of
character who do not sell their opinions.
Therefore their editorials have weight in
making public sentiment.
There is much of truth as to what an
editorial page should be in a recent ad-
dress delivered by Mr.. Albert e. Hoyt be-
fore the New York Press Association. We
quote:
The district Attorney of New York
county said in a recent public address
that he cared not who write the editorials,
if he could write the headlines. Mr. Je-
rome Is In line with certain sentiment,
expressed every now and then, that the
editorial page, like the vermiform appen-
dix, had outlived its function, if it ever
had function; that it ought to give place
to news, advertising or other matter more
in keeping with the strenuousity of the
times.
There is another school which adheres
to the editorial page, but in so altered
and strange a guise that total abolition
were to be preferred. The bill-poster
journalism, with it's raised letters for the
blind-with its editorials set the width of
the page, in letters borrowed from the
circus printers outfit-would have us be-
lieve that the strength of the editorial
page depends upon the size OF the type
used in producing it. Must the editor
shrek in small plea, in order to be heard ?
Is red ink a satisfactory substitute for
gray matter?
Then there is the tabloid journalism,
which makes brevity not means, but
an end. A good thing is the better for
being brief; but a brief thing is the bet
ter for being good. 1t brevity is the
only thing, then we must simply reverse
the rule of the old country minister of
generation ago. He stood the hour
least once, before he concluded-for in his
day excellence was length. Whereas we
must stand like a clerk at the ribbon
counter, and snip short our ideas, or listen
for the click of the typewriter bell to
warn us, mo more along that line" The
tabloid journalism breaks up housekeep-
ing, and patronizes the quick lunch, be-
cause it is so brief. l have read edito-
rials, and so have you, which ended so alb
ruptly that you could almost see the ma
jestic form of the foreman warning the
editor to cut it short.
What then? Is Mr.. Jerome right? Must
We abolish the editorial page? Or, if we
retain it, must we make it sideshow for
the display Of freak type, or reduce it to
box of pleasant pellets, less offensive
than medicine, but not half so effective?
The editor would often be glad to put
from him the giants robe, abdicate his
leadership, relinquish his character of
guide. When William l.. Wilson, after
leaving the Cabinet, was talked of as
editor of a leading newspaper, Charles A.
Dana congratulated him, and said in
substance: 'Mr. Wilson, for the first
week you will not be able to lind paper
enough to contain your ideas; for all the
rest of the weeks, there will not be ideas
enough to fill your paper" Every edito-
rial writer knows what that means. To
know what to say is rare gift; to know
what not to say, stIn rarer. But shall the
editor essay no longer to teach, to guide,
to instruct? Would he abdlcate, If he
could? Could he abdicate, if he would?
The flagman who left his post of duty
lCng enough to let the train be wrecked
was the fiagman STILL the shepherd who
let the sheep run down the precipice was
the shepherd still. Some things cannot
be abdicated and the editors duty to
guide his flock according to the light that
is in him to teach the right, as God gives
him to see the rights one of those
things. The editorial page has come to
stay.
Mr.. Jerome and the rest of them are
at the swing of the pendulum. Only
few years ago the editorial page was
everything, the news nothing. Now they
would make the news everything, the
editorial page worse than nothing. This
is the unreason of extremists. Truth lies
in the middle ground. The true news
paper will contain plenty of news, plenty
of advertising, and the best and brightest
editorial page to be found In a days jour
ney.
What the people want is not fewer as
better editorials, brighter editorials, edi-
torials which are full lof the homely. cdi-
torials, or shorter editorials, so much COM
mon sense of the Masses and capable
therefore, of striking responsive chord.
There is no likelihood that the editorial
page will lack for ability, but there are
times when it seems to lack "gumption,"
or "horse-sense;' to lack evidence that
the editor has ATTENDED a good woman's
school," and at such times. it may be,
Mr. Jerome's sneer is justified"
An illustration of the wisdom of tax.
ing property at its real value is seen in
New York. The city tax rate has been
decreased from $3.50 to $141. Property
va I,1a tiop has hpen increased and lv;nr