The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-07-26

usually possessed the courage of his
and entertained a regard
for right that was as rigid as it was
reverentisl, he wrote-not as the re-
suit of superficial observation, or here
say, but with the authority of one who
had diligently studied the issues pre-
sented for decision, hence the editorial
utterances of his paper almost invaria-
bly, exerted a vital influence over the
community of which he was an i'm
portant unit-an accepted censor of
public morals and in private life a
man honored and respected a
He refrained from giving printed
publicity to a rumor until it had been
verifed-always giving somewhat less
prominence to the morbose and grew
some, or the salacious and unsightly.
and more to the brighter and more
wholesome side of human existence.
Such was the temper of the public
conscience that failure to discharge
his duties earnestly, fearlessly, and
with the utmost integrity, would have
exposed him to the contempt of his
fellowmen and thus have destroyed
his usefulness as public servant.
Such was the Journalism of a few
decades ago, and he would have been
rash prophet who would predict that
it would ever be otherwise. But times
change and it is one of the tragedies of
a matter of fact world that men
change with them, hence it is that
with rare exceptlons-the types I have
portrayed no longer exist. Newspapers
have become modern as the age has
become modern, and personal journal
ism has gradually been supplanted by
corporate journalism which possesses
no personality and is, therefore, devoid
of conscience. s-T2 --T-s-----es
With the increase in competition
among influential papers the sense of
public responsibility gradually gave
way to purely human desire for per-
sonal power and private gain. The
matter then resolved itself into a
problem of how best to use the editor
ial prestige for personal profit, and,
at the same time, profess concern for
the public veal. The logical solution
was found in the corporation con-
trolled newspaper, which insidiously
works by indirection, and, as a result,
the corporation which does not own or
control an influential newspaper OF
two is as much handicapped as it
would be if it did not own dummy di-
rectors, attorneys, lobbyists, lawgivers
political bosses, courts and profes.
sional witnesses.
Exercising an influence as extensive
as it is pernicious, the one general
class of venal newspapers necessarily
embraces many types, extending from
the Incorporated concern whose stock
holders represent all the "big interests,
and whose policy is primarily adjusted
to those interests, on the one extreme
to those owned by mercenary individ
uals and maintained solely for revenue
from any available source, on th'
other, but, as rule, their method
differ only in degree, and more Otter
than not. they will be found nursing
the same schemes and advocating th'
same measures. They are of kind il
that their principles are measured il
dollars and they represent the plail
common people about as much a
Dowie represents Divinity.
Posing as disinterested public ser
wants, and processing to stand for tn
public good, it is the. actual function
of such papers so to shape public opin
ion as to promote the political or bust
ness interests Of those that contro
, their policies by ownership, subsidy, o
!, even less commendable means, and
, once they have been brought into stat
, of subvention, they serve the sci
] fish interests of the suborners with al
the diligence ofatrusted sentinel whoi
] ever on the alert lest the enemy shoul
, approach and he Saould not hear.
), While they exert tremendous II
: duenceN over questions Of nations
: scope they are especially active whe
8 matters of local import are in process
4 of adjustment, and the incessant han
: mer marks Of the subsidized press il
r variably operate to temper publi
' | demands for the enactment Of amend
al atorv legislation affecting the interest