Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-20
SPEAKS ON THE EDITORIAL PAGE
Henry Watterson's Address to Jour-
nalists at st. Louis.

A dispatch from ST. Louis last night says:
The National Editorial Association held its
final sessions today on the worlds falf
grounds. Col Henry Watterson of Louis
ville whose address was the feature of the
program, took for his topic "The Editorial
Page" and spoke in part, as follows:
Every profession may be said to have
its mice and its men; inevitably more mice
than men. There is the housing journalist,
whose wares are mostly secondhand, who
imports his wit, and manufactures his
news, affecting Jove's thunder in the tum-
tum of a finger bowl In case he happens
to be acquainted with that homely utensil.
The antithesis there is the newspaper
writer, who can give and take without
brutality, or malice, and who, no matter
how bellicose, brings to the combat clean
hands and little accuracy, both of in
formatio and statement.
Valuable, as It Aids Reader.
1.-THE editorial page is valuable in the
degree that it aids the reader to digest
the news. 1t should either be reformed
or abandoned. Under certain spell which
has crept upon the modern newspaper 1t
Is becoming, If it has not already become,
a rather useless appendage-not even orna-
mental. Yet the editorial page after the
eXhilaration-the distra ctions and excite
dais in the center of a great hall, a seat
of rest and charm; an elevation from which
to survey the passing show, having its
lights adjusted the better to set forth this
passing show, and its ready chorus to eX-
plain it.
Observation-Disclosures being the soul good
humor is the solar system of the editorial
page, which should be held subject to these
precepts:
THE leading article being the rationale
of the most important and interesting piece
OF the days news, should have a beginning,
a middle and an end; should be concise and
incssive, seeking to assist the reader in his
EFFORT to comprehend the situation.
Satire Within Bounds.
Satire should keep within the bounds
of the probable, wit under the restraints
of sense, and even invective, short of adj
jective and adverb and stripped to the
waist, should strike out from the shoulder
to hit only above the belt.
1.-The pert paragraph should be allowed
to die a natural death. No flowers.
Except 1t be thus delivered, the edi-
torial page were best extinguished. To set
apart a certain number of columns for the
eauvocal dignity of large type; to NIL
these columns with perfunctory matter.
with matter as lifeless dolls stuffed with
sawdust, equally wanting the elements OF
conviction and continuity, one thing today,
another thing tomorrow; unirradlated by
any CLEAN of light. undiversified. even by
a trick of fancy; uniform only. in dullness
is to disfigure the page. to degrade the edi-
toral."
The associa ton adopted a resolution APP
propriating 800 to the fund for monument
over the grave of Bill Nye. The following
officers were elected:
President, Maj w. w. Screws of Ala
bama; first vice president. w. w Folsom
of Arkansas; second vice president. w. j.
Kline of New York third vice president H.
B. Varnor of North Carolina; corresponding
secretary w. A. Wahbrook of Ohio; record
ing secretary, j. w. Cochrum of Indiana
treasurer j. Irving Steel of Pennsylvania.
The convention adjourned to meet next
year at Guthrie. Okla.