The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-08-28
COUNTING HOUSE NEWSPAPERS

Not many months ago Mr.. Jerome
declared that the editorial policy OF
most newspapers in New York was
controlled from the counting house,
meaning hat editorials We're written
to put money in the purse of the own
er of the paper rather than to adj
vance any good cause or subserVe any
public interest. Mr.. Jerome was gen
orally criticized for his too sweeping
assertion, but there is too much of
the sort of journalism that is Of the
| commercial character, too many news
| papers whose back door opens into the
private office of a railroad magnate,
head of a trust, or some other rich
interests desiring to use the paper to
further their ends and put money in
their purses. A neWspaper is like a
street car. It depends for success
upon population. If there IS a small
population the street car company, no
matter how Well it is run, can make
but little money. But once let it get
to making money it is better than a
gold mine. If q eWspap can gain
but a small circulation it's income is
I'D Ililii u IL -
a large city it may become almost as
good a mine as a street car If it OBJ
tains favor with the public. In the
old times the newspaper was never
deemed a money making institution.
In our great cities they pay hand
somely and not a few have been
bought by capitalists just as they buy
a railroad or a bank or a factory. Such
ownership is dangerous to the free
dom Of the press, for. while a paper
must have income ample to pay it's
bills, it SHOULD never be conducted in
order to make money or to advance
the business interests or political for
tunes of any man. When it is COM
mercializei it becomes a piece of mer-
chandise and has no right to be call
ed a public journal. 1t ought to be
made to carry at its mast the name
of the real owner and state the in
terests it is printed 10 subserVe. OF
course most newspapers are still! con-
Quoted upon principle and for the
public good. Even those that are sub
sldlzed often serve the public upon
matters that do not conflict with the
interests of the powers that them.
But more and more the great journals
in the big cities are in danger of be-
coming the organs of special inter-
ests, and of serving their owners, with
such serpent-like wisdom that few peo-
pie see the hand that guides the pen.
This line of thought was suggested
by the following article written for
this ape by Mr.. O. j. Peterson. for
merly editor Of the Lumberton Ar
gus:
10 the Editor:-I am quite sure you
Will be Interested in a dilemma that
confrOntS me. | am now about to
part company With a gentleman who
has been expecting me to take the edi- |
toflal management of a daily paper
IN a certain city. 1t is tie question
OF the relationship of the owner and
the editor.
50 far as each knows there is no
Iack OF harmony in the views of the |
TWO; but the prospective editor fore
sees the possible arising of a question |
upon which their views may be di-
verse, and he claims it as his right |
10 publish his own views upon the |
matter, While the employer saws.
While We would likely never inter
fere with You in the least, vet we
would not be willing for YOU 10 ex-
IA - 10 E1I NltAS GDOuC winch /
" : would nave contrary opinions
certainly that is a reasonable prona-
sltlon, but Is not mine a r~easonable
DO we not have i~rreconcila hIa
viewpoints? The right of pronarty ~
protect itself seems inalienabIe. ana
50 seems the right of man
mood. ~candidly, this writer conld not
pe lree man, and could scarcely be
an honest one, with a possible en-
bargo hanging over his pen
And is this not a tvnioa, o,aoo
does II not show that the owners ~
he press, and not the editors. are
~ thousands Of cases. the authors Of
lhe sentiments promulgated bv the
paess. ana Is it surprising, in this
aaS "nen 1t requires immense canital
TO equip and conducr > five, -
"spapef plant. that the utterancas
y TIE press are SO often in accord |,