The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-17
ERANKLIN's EDITORIAL RULES.

ERANKLlN'S EDITORIAL RULES.
A new historical publication, The
Press of the World, now in preparation,
min Franklin's rules for the conduct of
his first journalistic venture, and they
are so perfectly applicable to present
day newspaperdom that they are worth
preserving and emphasizing. Franklin
had just begun the publication of his
Pennsylvania Gazette, the first really
successful newspaper in the United
States, when an article was submitted
to him for publication which did not
meet his views of prop-iety. With his
customary elaboration he did not re-
ject it Immediately, but told the author
he would sleep over it and give his de-
cision the next day. Here was the way
he decided:
Il have perused your piece" he
wrote, land find it to be scurrilous and
defamatory-to determine whether
should publish it or not, 1 went home
in the evening, purchased a 2-penny
loaf at the bakers, and with water from
the pump, made my supper; 1 then
wrapped myself up in my great coat
and laid down on the floor and slept
till morning, whereon another loaf and
a mug of water, made my breakfast
From this regimen I feel no inconve-
in this manner, ! have formed the de-
termination never to prostitute my
press to corruption and abuse of this
kind for the sake of gaining a mere
comfortable subsistence"
Evidently the man who submitted the
article was a person of some influence
and Importance, possibly great enough
to make or mar the ordinary publisher
in those days of scant revenue fol
newspapers; but Franklin's adroit de-
claration of independence would have
convinced any one that he could not be
inundated or coerced into any differ
ent attitude. The editor who could con-
template cheerfuIly a diet of bread. and
to his loss of independence, was not
likely to be Influenced by any ccnsid-
Grafton of a monetary sort.
Nor had Franklin much regard fol
the men who pleaded the liberty of the
press" as an excuse for venting per-
sonaI spleen on an antagonist. The phi
losopher was too clear-headed to be de-
luded by any such specious argument
as that, and he had very rigid idea
as to the ethical obligations of the pub.
Usher. After he had closed his edito-
riOI career for the larger public dut;e-
to which he was called by his country
he defined the rules which had gov
erned his publication. In the cOndGc,
of my newspaper" he wrote: II care
fully exclude all libelling and persona
abuse which is of late years become 81
disgraceful to our country. Whenever
/ was solicited to insert anything q
generally did, the liberty of the press
and that a newspaper was like a stag
| coach, in which any one who woGlC
pay had a right to a place, my answer
was that I would print the piece sepa
rately, if desired, and the author Nigh
have as many copies as he pleased t:
distribute himself, but that 1 would no
take it upon me to spread his dstrac
ton; and that having contracted Will
my subscribers to furnish them with
what might be either useful or enter
tanning, 1 could not fill their papers
with private alteration in which the!
had no concern, without doing then
manifest injustice.
Now, many of our printers make nj
scruples of gratifying the malice Of in
dividuals, by false accusations o
the fairest characters among our
selves, augmenting animosity evel
to the producing of duels; and are
moreover, so indiscreet as to print sour
rilous reflections on the government o
neighboTing states, and even on thu
conduct of our best national allies
which may be attended with the mos
perniciOus consequences.
These things 1 mention as a cautiog
to young printers, and that they may b,
encouraged not to pollute their presses
and disgrace their profession by s~cI
infamous practices, but refuse steadily
as they may see by my example tina
such a course of conduct will not, OF
the whole, be injurious to their inter
ests."
1t is worth noting that franklin
high standards not only won him tn,
respect of a large constituency. on
they made his newspaper venture S;
profitable that it drove less scrupuloui
rivals out of the field entirely. 1t is ais.
worthy of note that even in those day.
it was not uncommon for some pub
fishers to print libeIous and abusive
matter in the hope of profit to them
selves, but that they have been forgot.
ten long ago, while their more worthy
exampler achieved imperishable fame.
Anticipating the rain that fell, the
street department very carefully
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