West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-06-02


profit. upon She reduction of expenses.
upon buying white paper and selling IL
printed. and that is business. but a
man who has the advantage. honor and
pleasure OF addressing the public every
day as writer or thinker is pro-
feSsional man. So, OF course is he who
directs these writers and reporters,
who tells them what TO sny and how TO
say Il. who shows them how 20 think,
who inspires them. though he may
never write line himself. and decides
what the principles OF the paper shall
be. For example. the greatest editor
IN the whole history of European Jour
nalism. John Delanc. never wrote any
articles OF his own. although for thirty
six years he was the head. the heart,
the brain OF the London Times. but
he directed every writer; he furnished
the thought, the policy. the Initiative;
he bore the responsibility, and he cor
rectcd both manuscript and proofs.
NOthing less than the highest ideals.
the most scrupulous anxiety 60 do right,
the most accurate knowledge OF the
| problems 1t has to meet.a and sincere
sense OF its moral responsibility win
save Journalism from subservience TO
business interests. seeking selfish ends,
antagonistlc 20 the public welfare.
Commercialism has legitimate
place in newspaper-namely. I'm the
business Office The more successful
| a newspaper is commercially the bet
ter FOR it's moral side. The more pros
porous II Is the more independent 1t
can AFFORD to be- the higher salaries It
can pay TO editors aud reporters, the
less subject it viii be TO temptation,
the better Il can stand losses for the
sake OF principle and conviction. But
commcrci0lism. which Is proper and
necessary In the business office. be-
comes n degradation and danger
when IL lnvades the editorial rooms
| Once let the public come to regard the
| press as exclusively a commercial busi-
ness and there Is an end OF its moral
| power. influence cannot exist without
public confidence and that confidence
must have human basis. IL must
rest in the end on the character OF the
| journalist The editor, the real "jour-
naiist" Of the future, must be man OF
such known integrity that he VIII be
above the suspicion OF writing or edit
ing ngainst his convictions. He must
be known as one who would resign
rather than sacrifice his principles TO
any business interest. II would be
well II the editor OF every newspaper
were also its proprietor but every edi.
tor cnn be at least the proprietor OF
himself. If lie cannot keep the paper
from degrading Itself, he can refuse
to be party TO the degradation.
BY far the larger part OF the Ameri.
can press is honest. although partisan
II means to do right; it would like 20
know how. To strengthen its resolu
tion and give to it's wisdom the indis-
| pensabe. basis OF knowledge and in
dependence is the object OF training in
/ journalism.
We are embarked. whether we like
II or not upon revolution In thought
and life Progress is sweeping for
ward with accelerating force, outstrip-
] ping In decades the advance OF former
centuries and millenniums. All pro-
| fesslons, all occupations but one, are
/ keeping step with that majestic march.
| Its inspiration has fred all ranks OF
the marching army. or must we except
the standard bearers? The self CON
stituted leaders and enllghteners of the
| people-what are they doing? Stand.
ing still. lost in self admiration, while
the hosts march by3 Are they even
doing as well as that7 Is Il not fact
that the editors OF seventy years ago
were, as a rule. better informed I'm
law. politics. government and history
than those OF today? The statesmen
and lawyers and political students who
used to do editorial work for ambi-
tion or intellectual pleasure have
ceased to frequent the newspaper
] Offices There Is no trade so humble
that II Is not developing a standard OF
competence based on thorough train
ing, For the more intellectual pro-
fessions-law. medicine art. archi-
lecture, music. engineering I'm all It's
varied branches the years OF prepara-
tion are stretching over ever lengthen.
ing periods
Is the most exactng professions OF
all. the one that requires the widest
aud the deepest knowledge and the
firmest foundations Of character. to be
| left entirely 10 the chances OF self odu-
eationY Is the man who IL everybodys
critic and teacher the only one who
docs not need TO be taught himself?
IL has been said by some that my OBJ
ject in founding the College Of Jour
nalism was to help young men who
wish 20 make this their vocation 9th
ers have commended II as an effort 70
raise journalism 20 its real rank as
/ r.F
Is true. But. while Il Is a great pleas
ure to feel that a large number Of
young men win be helped 10 a better
start In ife by means OF this college.
this Is not my primary object Neither
u the elevation OF the profession
which I love 80 much and regard so
I highly. IN ali my planning the chief
/ end I had Ga view was the welfare Of
fhe Republic II will be the object
pr The college TO make better 5ournal
lists who Will make better newspapers.
which VIII better serve the public IL
viii impari knowledge for rs own
kake. but 70 be used for the public
Service 10 will try 70 develop char.
acter, but c~en that Will be only
means 10 the one supreme end tho
public good. We are facing that hith-
erio unheard Of portent. an inuumera-
bic. world wide, educated and self con-
scious democracy Tho little revolu.
lions of tho past have boon effected By
n few leaders working upon an imor-
ant populacc. conscious only Of vague
feelings Of discomfort Now the masses
read They know their grievances and
their power They discuss in New
York the position Of labor in Berlin
md ln sydney Capital too. is .devei-