The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-05-15
POWER OF TIE PRESS.

Nilrr1mc court believes that the press OF
The country more cfFecttlally accompanies
the constitutional purpose 10 form n
more perfect uniony than any other me-
diam. Hc cxtols the press for making
ono section Of country acquainted with
smother and for instiiiing patriotism in
10 the hearts Of the people. An utter
ancc Of his in that connection il not high
sounding plrraseoIogy, but the plain I'm
vanished truth. He says:
'swithcut the press, even viii, the tel
egraph and the postofficc. what strnng
era we should be! Knowing each other,
we find how much alike we arc-scmc
detects, but many cxcellcnrics. So by
bringing the American people into a
more intimate acquaintance the press has
been making more perfect union"
Tho eminent jurist goes farther. He
says:
I'm the evolution of the court of pub.
lie opinion-that court mightier than any
organized tribunal. MT whose bar are
Judged all mon, events and purposes.
Here the press does mighty work. It
collects the universal opinion, announces
its conclusions and whiris them against
an for gloom or glory. These facts speak
most for the uplifht of the nation, and
In each the press has been one If not the
great factor. May it continue it's work,
promoting national unity, hnstcning the
solution of the great social problems and
bringing all matters before the court of
public opiniona court of increasing wis
dom and power,v
There is local application TO the en-
inent Justices remarks. too often disre-
gnrded. In a measure this is the fault
of the newspapers themselves, owing to
the fact that they permit an influence
That has n selfish political purpose or
some personal interest, but more fire.
quently on account of the fact that the
press is not regarded of sufficient i'm
portancc to be recognized, although that
even is belied, if the press happens to
take issue with those who think it of no
account and not worthy of due consider
alton. Anger follows.
Conditions and situations, however.
have their natural influence on ncwspa-
pers just as much rs they have on in
dividuals, and upon those to a more or
less extent depend the power of the press.
Tt 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 furore and create
desperation that no community would
hail with delight, and recognizing this
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-
:sem. Another is to protect the people of
Ms community and yet there are many,
N fact, most all, who want to read and
really enjoy reading sensational articles
about others, but never about themselves.
I The newspaper that does not "write.up
) everybody" when he geta in u scrape
-.-eloses out in point of popularity. It would
Z. seen. 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
xumbles and thinks It mighty strange
because he has not the pleasure to read
full account of the misfortune in the
newspaper. He says. ..the paper is no
good" The months roll by and some
ching happens in his own family. If by
chance an account of it happens to get
INTO the newspaper he is not only sore.
hut angry. He gets on the war path.
This is simple illustration OF what
the newspaper man has to go up against,
but he exercises his judgment the best
he knows how and does his utmost to
publish paper that will benefit the poo.
pie the most. Only n man who devotes
himself 20 the work with all his heart,
having only two objects in yiew-thc
welfare of the paper and policy it rep
resents and the people the paper reaches,
really knows the protection and assist
ance it gives. nor can they realize the
harm he might do, but. fortunately. the
man who enters upon the journalistic ca
reer and endurcs all the strain ana emo
ticns connected Herewith seldom has any
design against any one and certainly no
bitterness. He sees that he has founda-
ton for his utteranccs and expresses
them for the good of the community. not
wishing TO do individual harm although
st may be conceived to be SO intended by
the guilty.
The eminent iurist has good general
conception of the press. but not Alto
gether practical knowledge of It's in-
terror workings and the spirit behind it,
o. his laudations would be still louder.
There is no longer any complaint
about scarcity of cars in this coal region.
An mines. we understand. are being sup