The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-24
CRITICISES THE NEWSPAPERS.
JUDGE HERRICK THINKS THEY
ARE LOSING INFLUENCE.
Cites HIS Own Defeat TO Prove II
Col. George Harvey Renrinlsoes OF
His Journalistic Days and Discusses
New Observation-Disclosures Dinner.

Into history as having been defeated 70
Governor OF New York In the face OF tn
greatest detection from an opposition
candidate ever known in the annals Of thu
State, got chance at the newspaper meI
last night and took advantage Of 1t
The occasion was the annual dinner OF the
Newspaper Publishers Association, helc
In the Waldorf-Astoria. and Judge HerTtch
gave tho newspaper men a good talking to
Judge Herrick was not the only critic
OF newspapers and newspaper making
Col. George Harvey, after giving humor
Gus account OF his own experiences in the
newspaper world, discussed at length the
tendencies OF the modern newspaper and
the question whether these were good or
bad.
! Nearly 900 newspaper men with their
friends were at the dinner. Prior to the
dinner s. S. Rogers OF the Chicago DdiiS
Netos was elected president of the 1850
citation: w. c, MoLain OF the Philadelphia
| Inquirer vioe-president. and e. p. Call
| OF tho New York Globe treasurer. The
| Office Of secretary, left vacant by the death
| OF the late William Cullen Bryant, was
not filed and will not be until the next
| meeting, month hence.
out that with all their possibilities for WELD
ing great influence. there were yet times
when the newspapers welded no influence
al all.
As Illustrations he referred to recent
municipal elections In New York, when
the newspapers were substantially all for
ono candidate and against another. yet
the candidate they were for was defeated
Il be- III i-,. ,t,...t
elected. Coming down to more recent
times he referred to tho election of last
November.
On that occasion. he said. one candidate
got a stronger newspaper support than any
other candidate of his party had ever had
before and yet-and ne admitted that he
said 1t with sadness-that candidate was
defeated Judge Herrick wanted TO know
why.
The only reply he received from the pub
fishers was in the form of cheers. Then he
answered the question himself He said
that when the people saw political leader
training first on one side and then on the
other. the people lost confidence in that
leader,
By the same token, when they saw a news
paper supporting first one side and than
another the people got the impression that
that the shifting Of support was the result Of
price and that the newspaper had got the
p1os. And yet Judge Herrick said he was
in favor of an independent press.
Another reason for lack of faith In news
papers, Judge Herrick said, was their
increasing abuse of public men. He was
no longer public man, and on that ground
he appealed 70 the publishers to acquit him
OF speaking out Of the full tenderness of a
sore head.
He spoke "a a patriotic American; but !
this unqualified and undeservsd abuse of |
MOI fts4lN To n
mine the faith Of the people in their chosen |
representatives, would result. II continued, |
in the overthrow of the American form |
of government. for II went hand in hand |
with the belief that the highest privilege |
OF an American. the franchise. was matter
OF bargain and sale.
Judge HerrIck said that the foreigner
who comes 10 this country with his mind |
filed with the dignity Of the ballot and the |
blessings OF American liberty learned |
for his first lesson that the ballot was simply |
a marketa BILE commodity. Then the Judge |
appealed to the publishers. He implored |
them TO make an organized warfare upon
this evil and incidentally to mend their |
own manners and customs in the matter
OF carrying on political warfare
Postmaster William R. Wilcox spoke |
on the Newspaper Mail and said that Il
post office like that of New York which
turned into the Government net returns
Of millions more than any other post Office
in the country had right to modern equip
ment which It was very far from having now
and which Congress seemed 10 be in no
pa rticular hurry to give it.
Commander Peary topic YVES First News
From the Pole" and he said among other
things that he was going to take
wireless telegra phic equipment with him
when ne left his frozen in ship TO start over
the Toe for the pole and that he hoped
TO be in oomnunica ton not only with
his ship but through the ship with New
York and the world while he was gone.
Col. George Harvey head Of the Harper
house, then spoke on afhe
Newspaper" He said in part:
Col. Harvey on Newspaper Making.
@The profession, trade or business what
sver you consider it-of newspaper pub
shing is no joke / know, for I tried 1t
with results which, for reasons well under
stood by myself, | shall not dwell upon
But the fact is that. If this occasion were
.hree months hence, | could truthfully say
hat quarter of century has elapsed
ince / became the publisher of what was
spoken Of, at least by Itself, as a newspaper.
Il was printed in a manufacturing village
which reposed in the classic shadow Of
Peacham, VI 1t was a weekly in every
meaning Of the word and had In oofpmon
With most jourTals, great or small that
appendage commonly known
Is proprietor Fortunately for me- how
'ver unhapplly for himself and his readers,
his particular proprietor was n drone.
ne consequence was tnat at the mature
Lge OF 10 | was heartily welcomed and even
,ropithted in the humble establishment
rom which the rays Of his ignorance had
)een for some years disseminated
1T was a joyous period in my life, be-
ause, IN the protracted absences of tho
gre, / Possessed absolute authority and
vas free from Interference of any kind.
iy staff was 80 III fed that 1t had not the
trength to be disloyal. l was the staff
he editor. who was also the reporter. was
n enthusiastic young person for whose
demonstrated energy at that time some
What vitiated since, / still entertain a pro-
ound respect. / was that editor and that
eporter. Typesetting machines were I'm
nown then, but tie Office contained an !
light and airy composing !
DOM, which was occupied by thoroughly
apable force. | was that compositor.
t was non-union Office; l was the nom
Mon. The press room was the best in the
uilding; 30 was the press. The power
'hich moved the machine was m ore earn
st than electrical, but it was sufficiently
Elective to meet the requirements ]
ias the motor.
HARMONY oP LONE WORKER.
THE utmost ingenuity Of the human
lind could not conceive a greater har- {
lony Of working interests. The effective {
ess OF what is termed in the sportsrnan's {
'orld team play could not have had a I
lore favorable test; and yet, in the interest I
veracity, am obliged TO admit that the ]
emOn stratiOn rrova1 ieaa an tfafacfor, {, - | {