The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-05-13
POWER OF THE PRESS.

Justice Brewer of the United States
supreme court believes that the press Of
the country more efFectually accomplishes
The constitutional purpose to form
more perfect union than any other me-
dium. He extols the press for making
one section of country acquainted with
another and for instilling patriotism in
to the hearts of the people. An utter
auce Of his in that connection is not high
sounding phraseology, but the plain un-
vanished truth. He says:
without the press, even with the tel
egraph and the postoffcc, what strang,
ers We should be! Knowing each other
We find how much alike we are-some
defects. hut many excellencies. So by
bringing the American people into a
more intimate acquaintance the press has
been making a more perfect union"
The eminent jurist goes farther. He
says:
I'm the evolution of the court Of pub.
lie opiniou-that court mightier than any
organized tribunal, at whose bar are
Judged all men, events and purposes.
Here the press does mighty work. 1t
collects the universal opinion. announces
its conclusions and whirls them against
all for gloom or glory. These facts speak
most for the uplifht of the nation, and
in each the press has bee,i one if not the
great factor. May it continue its work,
promoting national unity, Fastening the
solution OF the great social problems and
bringing all matters before the court on
public opiuion--a court Of increasing wis.
jtiom and powcr!"
There is a local application TO the EN-
inent justices remarks, TOO often disre
earded. In measure this Is the fault
Of the newspapers themselves. owing To
the fact that they permit an infiuene"
that has a selfish political purpose OF
some personal interest, but more ire.
quently on account Of the fact that the
press is not regarded Of sufficient i'm.
portancc TO be recognized, although that
even Is belicd. II the press happens e
take issue with those who think it Of no
account aHd not worthy Of due consider
alton. Anger follows
Conditions and situations. however
have their natural influence on newspa.
pers just a. much a they have on in.
dividuals, and upon those to a more or
less extent depend the power Of the press.
1t Is not always within the power Of
newspapers to even mould public opinion.
especially in cities the size Of those in
West Virginia. The slightest intimation
Of essential changes in the habits and
customs Of the people, especially certain
classes. would raise a iurore and create
a desperation that no community wCuld
hail with delight. and recognizing thi,
fact. the newspapers exercise a conserva,
tism for the benefit and satisfaction Of
its immediate section. One Of the main
objects OF this Is to promote peace and
harmony and not strife and dis union.
ism. Another is TO protect the people Of
its community and yet there are many
in fact, mostau, who want to read and
really enjoy reading sensational articles
about others, but never about themselves
The newspaper that does not "write-up
everybody" when he gets in a scrape
loses out in point Of popularity, it would
seem. from the complaints, which are
registered with the editor. There have
been times with the newspaper man that
he has taken pity on some unfortunate
person and tried to shield that ones
family, but the neighbor OF the family
grumbles and thinks it mighty strange
because he has not the pleasure to read
a full account Of the misfortune in the
newspaper. He says, ~the paper IS no
good" The months roll by and some
thing happens in his own family. II BY
chance an account Of it happens to get
into the newspaper he is not only sore,
but angry. lie gets on the war path.