Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-23


and that with even the best of intentions
and even they will Internationally inject
their own impression. and yet absolute
impartiality must be the ideal at which
The Associated Press aims You furnish
news to Republican papers. Democratic
papers, papers identified with other par
ties and to Independent papers; and the
readers of these Associated Press reports
represent every phase of opinion.
"Your association is not party or
gan; it does not do editorial work; 1t
is not the champion of any cause or
the advocate of any man. 1t is ex-
pected to tell the truth about congress
sional doings. legislative sessions. mu-
nicipal matters, and to correctly re-
port that which is given to it for pub
hcation. 1t cannot guarantee its read
ers against mistakes, for it's agents
are human; but it can correct mis-
takes when they are found out, and
admonish its representatives to be eau
tious. It does not furnish the head
lines which are often misleading; but
it can see to it hiatt the text is free
from intentional errors and that those
WHO trust W Ills dCCuidCy snail IlOl
be deceived.
at take this opportunity to express
my appreciation of the treatment that
has been accorded me. The association
has asked me for advance copies of
great many more speeches than l have
been able to give it, and in asking for
an advance copy it has furnished the
best proof that it wanted to treat me
with fairness. Through The Associated
Press l have been able to get my ideas
and my arguments before the readers
of Republican papers, and [ have been
less concerned about the editorial COM
ments of Republican papers than
about the correctness of the news re-
ports
1T occurs to me that this is a good
place to present a though which l be-
love to be worthy of consideration.
The metropolitan newspaper is becom-
ing more and more a business enter
prise and less and less a political en-
terprise. The advertising columns Of
the big papers are non-political and
where the circulation is large, the
readers are SO divided politically that
the paper is by this very fact re-
strained from aggressive partianship.
''Then, too, the owners of a big news
paper is seldom able to do the edito-
rial work and. as he must depend upon
others to write the editorials, the pa
per becomes less and less the repre-
sentative of the personal opinions Of
any one. AS the years go by and as the
circulation and advertising patronage
increases the papers show an increas-
ing inclination towards political indie
pendance. In view of this tendency in
modern Journalism, it seems to me
that the time is ripe for an experiment.
1t is much easier for a paper to be BIZ
partisan than nonpartiSan; that is
easier 10 represent both sides than to
discuss public questions without TAX
ing either side. If the proprietor really
means to conduct 4 nOn-partisan paper
and if the readers be better satisfied
with a paper which reported the news
impartiaily in it's news columns and
then give too each party representa-
ton in it's editorial page? If, for in
stance, a big metropolitan paper wants
to become really independent, why
should ii not employ y representative
of each OF the parties to furnish signed
editorials on political questions? Such
paper would appeal to all parties and
especially to those who are enXious to
know both sides of every public ques-
ton. Is 1T not an experiment worth try
ing?
THE so-called Independent paper is
very apt to become partisan just be-
fore the election. This may suit the
proprietor if he is anxious to make
his party organization. But it is a
point with those who differ from him
and who have become subscribers be-
cause OF the claim of independence. If
the proprietor honestly desires to take
his paper out of politics and make it
purely u newspaper. the bipartisan
plan enables him to carry out his pur-
pose. No paper can be entirely neutral
in campaign and no editorial writer
can conceal his own bias when he
writes upon political subjects. If a
man can write equally wei! on both
sides, he cannot write very well on
either side.
If on the other hand, the editorials
are signed by men who frankly avow
ther intention of presenting quotations
from party standpoint the reader
can make allowance for partisanship