The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-08-27
Editors and Politics.

! tIIuAtOAS CAlu
why should Mr.. Clark Howell want
to be Governor OF Georgia ~ asks tho
\ Louisville Courier-J Journal, Why should
he not be content with the place Of editor
OF d prosperous ana influential news.
| paper ~ u i1 # i5 N .f5
WHY, II indeed ? AS Il a N Richmond editor
once said Of the ofllce-seekers, ~ Hang It,
man, we make md break those fellows,
The Courier Journal, whose editor Id an
old hand at the case, holds with Tho
Times-Dispatch that journalism is quits
as jealous mistress as the law, and
that rvh'la It iins but fow honors 10
bestow, It will not share 4 even these
with politics "There Is an Instinct In
ofllce-getting Mt war with the instinct OF
journalism says Editor Watterson.;
,8S."rhe one Is the offspring of d genius
for personal solicitations, the other OF the
spirit Of. Independence. No man may
serve two masters. The journalist who
seeks spreferlnent puts hmsolf ut an
immediate and serious disadvantage,
He liz rs o. Snbbnth-school teacher who
wants q drink on Sunday; as "a book
worm among athletes, tcnderfoot
among cowboys. He cannot be at one
md the same time the holder OF an Of
flee md the head of4a newspaper + he
expects to retain popularity, which got
him tho office. or exercise Influence
without which the newspaper must be
a rather barren ideallty from any Gle
waited point of view x Ho must give up
the one or tho other II he looks for
long ana safe tenure. 81 5iE5 is
The editor who goes into tho business
Of office seeking and takes his newspaper
embarrassment. 1t is too much to eX-
poet that he Will allow his columns to
be used to aid end abet the candidacy
Of his opponent. gButif he uses tho paper
to boost himself, by suppresslng, color
ing distorting or exag gerating the nows,
he degrades and debauches It and Injuries
its character. A newspaper that Is not
fair In its news reports is foul. and cans
not long retain tho confidence and res
spect Of decent readers. There is no place
In modern journalism for the organ.
| A political organ Is bad enough:aa per-
sonal political organ is woiso and IAN
abominntion on tho earth. An established
! newspaper Is n quasi public institution.
It owes a duty to tho public which can
not bio ignored and not even It's owner
has tho right to debnso It for selfish
purposes. To do SO Is almost8to commit
sacrilege. But as q matter Of poicy,3it Is
doubtful IL an editor In politics can help
HIS own candidacy with his own news
paper. Mr.. Wattersonl thinks not. If Mr..
Howell wants to enter public life de-
finitely and permanently, Z says he. ''let
him get rid OF his handicaps. Lot him.
first of all. get rid Of his newspaper. 1t
breeds him ton enemies where 1t breeds
him one friend, Some OF these enemies
make themselves sufficiently resonant
but most of them are hid out silent
and remorseless, nursing imaginary
wrongs and unimagined Sights, knives
up their sleeves and guns In their boots,
long waiting In the bushes ecr5 their
chance. In his case 1t came at last and
they Heom to- have used II good and
strong. Ej,$5 IA '
1--we tender Mr.. Howell, and In q less
but not In any discriminating OF invidioua
degree Mr.. Dstlll. our Fluctuations, They
may be in no mood for humor; but, In
case they feel too sore to laugh, we
know they are too brave to cry. Though
1t hurts they will both get over It. ana.
when they do we invite them to come
UP out OF tho shadow Of tho Valley OF
Ambition and stand with us upon the
Heights Of Freedom, where the air is
pure and tho whites Glenn, and where no
man need be afraid to call his soul his
oWn!'' ss
And lot us adds mo matter who's
elected, ~ II