The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-10

III d recent issue OF the Brooklyn
Eagle, julius Chambers in writing on
''The Afternoon Newspaper and It's
Transcendent Future says: During
chat with Melville E. Stone a few
days ago he made the Ito me) amaz-
ing statement: There are not more
than two morning newspapers in New
York that are paying expenses. True,
some of the others are pulled out Of a
hole by their Sunday and evening edi-
tions, but the morning newspaper has
seen its best day
An expression of opinion from such
an authoritative source as the general
manager of the Associated Press.
continues Mr.. Chambers, "wiu sur
prise many people; but the trend of
business for several years has been
| toward the afternoon newspaper
Mr.. Chambers argues that the geo
graphical position of the United States
has much to do with the popularity Of
the afternoon newspaper, because it
gets not only the cream of all the news
that happens during the day of its
publication in this country, but it also
gets much that appears in the morn
ing papers dated the following day in
Europe. Mr.. Chambers shows that
because of the difference in time an
evening paper in San Francisco can
actually wait until the morning papers
of the next day are out in Europe and
then print their news. OF course this
is not necessary, for the Associated
Press furnishes most of this news to
the afternoon papers earlier in the
dav, but it shows how the principle
works.
The cable and the development of
the telegraph systems, the fast presses
fast linotype and fast printing ma
chinery, are responsible for the
growth of the evening newspaper. 1t
enables the paper to lay before its
readers at supper time the events of
the entire world during the day just
! closing, at the time the average reader
wishes his news. He has more time
then for reading and the news is
/ fresher. Nearly all of the great events
happen during the daytime and are
/ first chronicled in the evening news
paper while they are still fresh.
1t is difficult to get at the facts of
an important news story in the night
/ time. even if one does happen. This is
aptly illustrated by the elections this
wsek. The late evening papers gave
all the news there was by extras or
! bulletins, and the morning papers
found it impossible to give much
definite in addition. For instance the
morning papers could not give ac-
curately the result in Ohio. 1t was
simply guesswork, and some guessed
one way and some another. The pub
1 lie had to wait for the evening papers
/ Wednesday to tell them definitely how
/ Ohio had gone, and the other big
/ contests were practically covered by
! the bulletins and late editions of the
evening papers Tuesday night. The
State Journal Tuesday night issued at
/ z o'clock in the evening gave the cleo
ton story, about as complete as
though more briefly Of course, than
the morning paper of Wednesday.
/ The average busy man has not time
to enjoy a morning paper anyway. ex-
/ cent on Sunday He is always in a
hurry in the morning and has little
time to sit down and read but when
the evening paper is delivered at his
home, filed with the fresh news of
the world. he can sit down and read
it at his leisure, only a short time after
it happened.
Then the women and children: what
time have they for the morning paper
with their mornings work and the
school. The evenings and Sundays are
their leisure, their reading hours