The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-20
The DAILY
NEWSP AP Err
Editor Watterson Says 1t Should
be a History Of Yes
terday.
THE EDITORIAL PAGE
Modern Scribe Tells Editorial
Association. All About How
1t Should be Prepared.
EDITORIAL
PAGE
lRY a ssociated loress.l

. . {, l. . .
ST. LOUIS. MO-. May l9--The Ma
tional Editorial Association held It's final
sessions to-day.
Colonel Henry Watterson of Louisville.
took for his topic THE Editorial Page"
and spoke in part as follows
Mr.. Wattcrson spoke in part as follows:
Primarily, the daily newspaper, is the,
history of YESTERDAY II It should per
other end in view, its value TO the com
runity would be priceless. Intelligent
readers, entrusted with the facts and I'M
hindered by pressure. could read their
own conclusions. But, as a rule. the
daily newspaper accepts no such limta-
ton. It sets up for a teacher as we'll as
a historian. 1t would ntiuence-.'mould.'
believe is, the word-public opinion; yet ,t
1t is not always the public-too often II
is some prvate-interest, which colors
its narrative and shapes Its oracles, fit
ting the one into the other. without that
which ought to lie at the bottom of every
mans heart and which does lie at the
bottom of every good mans heart. We
read now and again thy so.and-s
were a merit. whilst pursuing the like
whimsical conceit, that which is merely
pert is too often mistaken for it.
The Editorial Page.
The editorial page is valuable in the
degree that it aids the reader to digest
the news; It should either be reformed
Or abandoned. Under a certain spell
pepper. 1t is becoming, IL 1t has not already
become, a rather useless appendage-not
even MISUNDERSTANDING one OF those
clusters OF artificial flowers which at the
arc supposed 10 decorate the tables and
to deceive the wayfarer. Yet ought the
editorial page, after the cxhilaration-the
distractions and exctements-of the news
mar n la aS n jgph 1HiS in the
ter of a great hall, Il seat of rest and
charm; an elevation from which TO sur
Svey the passing show, having its lights
adjusted the better TO set forth this pass
ing show, and It's ready chorus to ex-
plain it,
Observation-Disclosures being the SOUL good
humor Is the solar system of the edito-
rial page, which should be held subject
TO these precepts:
What We Should Write.
Write of man nothing you would not
say TO his face. and might not say in the
hearing of decent people,
Avoid equally intimation and intimida,
ton. making no suggestion you are not
prepared to reduce, to assertion and to
sustain with proof.
The Heading article being the ration
ale Of the most important and Interesting
piece Of the days news, should nave g
be concise and incisiye; seeking to assist
the reader in his effort to comprehend
the situation,
Satire should Keep within the bounds
of the probable; wit under the restraints
of sense: and even invectve--shorn OF
adjective and adverb and stripped TO the
waist-should strike out from the
shoulder 10 hit only above the belt.
Pert Paragraphs Should Die.
The pert paragraph should be allowed
to die ,natural death; No flowers.
executed, thus inspired and partitioned.
could not fail to impress itself upon the
thought of the time, at once power and
a feature. an arm or the service ana
commercial asset,
Under The rule of supervision wholly
adequate il would soon rival the news
departments in point of popular consld-
Grafton and interest. One single editorial
embodying the qualities outlined and APP
pearlng each day of the year would come
10 be Sought by intelligent readers as an
essential part Of their morning plner;
how much more page covering the en-
tire range OF the days doings, dcallng
with each topic according 20 its CYAN
tum and its kind, from gay 10 grave
from lively TO severe,
How 1t Should be Put.
F,xcept TO be thus delivered the edito-
rial page were best eXtinsnislea, 10 sel
apar, q certain number of columns for
the euuivocal dignity of large type; to
iii these columns with perfunctory mat
ter. with matter us lifeless as dolls stuff
cd with sawdtst; equally wanting the
elements OF conviction and continuity
one thing to-daE, another tomorrow IN
irradiated BY any gIeam OF. light, nndi-
.,-r-iied even by trick of fancy. uni
,niv in dizziness. Ia to disfigure the
70 degrade the editorial. But direct
made up by man 81 Intelligence
cessarily what = called AN able or