Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-07-18
A CALL FOR LIGHT.

amusement we observe the efforts of
various Virginia newspapers to in
struCt the News Leader in its duties
as a party organ and to try to recon
Gle Independence and accuracy with
faithful performance Of these duties.
Some OF our contemporaries and til If
correspondents are inclined to I've Vi
Imperative: others are Distinctly
friendly and kindly. The News-Lead-
er Is held up as u modern example OF
personal journalism and its editor 10
exh0rted to encourage the Democra-
cy OF the state by landing the party
nominees and predicting their suS
! cess.
! understanding attentive study. we
out and reconcile the positions our
friends urge us to take. We will be
, very grateful If some Of the will eX-
plain a little more clearly what they
think the News-Laader ought to do.
We do not promise to accept their adj
vice, but we are curious to know just
what 1t Is. Suppose, for example, the
South Boston News or the Clinch Val
hey News or the Bristol Herald-Courl-
or throw some scintlliating light into
the fog.
! Suppose the editor OF the News
Leader, from his reading Of newspa-
pers, his study OF the figures of for
mer elections and his other sources
OF information believes that Taft will
carry New York and Ohio. Is II his
duty to write or nave written in the
News Leauer day after day glowing
predictions of trinmphs for Mr.. Dry
AN in those states. Or If from Il some
what extensive expert; nee he is con-
WINGED that any predictions OF re-
suits In November put forth in the
middle OF July are idle and without
meaning. ought he yet to tell his read
ers that victory for the Democratic
nominees Is an assured fact? Ii he did
this would he not be betraying the
confidence OF the people why buy the
| News Leader and read 1t for The pur
pose of being informed and OF beng
told what conditions are?
In other words. does a newspapers
loyalty and fidelity to its party re-
ouire It. to deceive those whose money
, Il takes and whose confidence it in
vites.
/ Az We look at II. the News-Leader
Is under contract to every subscriber
or purchaser to give Information as
nearly accurate as 1t can gather anu
;, to present editorially the actual op'n-
lions of its editors on matters OF pup
lie interest and Importance. We nave
the right to advise all our readers 10
vote the Democratic ticket this year
for the specific and special purpose y.
checking and limiting the power ol
the Republican party and OF Keeping
1.-The Democratic organization enec'i'e:
We have no right TO tell the pupile
!anything that We do not believe TO oe
itrue, to conceal our real opinion or W
l,lye advice which We believe 10 Le
Innwise and against the welfare OF 'ne
iconntry and people. According 10 our
nation IL we thought the people OF
VIRGINIA for their own interests ana
for the good OF the country ought 10
vote for Mr.. Taft we would pave iuli
right TO say so and it would be Our
Edntv tn saw so; hut believing, as We
'idn that they can best serve the co""-
itry and themselves by voting TOT
Hrvan We have the right to say 50
and n n our duty not only to tel '"eW
what they ought TO do, but why We
think they ought to do it.
That IL the case as II appears 10
1.-THE NewsLeader. We Will be very
much pleased II the contemporaries
we have named or any others VIII
chow us where and in what respect
lthey think We are wrong. we wan
ito know whether they think news
paper editor should bend and t"is'
his thought and belief according 10
partv requirements or whe'her ne
should recognize his OBLIGATION TO Inv
J. ublic and his readers rs frst ana
.era,iye This is not by way oil eH
PLANTATION but intended to ei'eit eNpsa
nation. We are Interested to KNOW.
az a general proposition. what M
contemporaries Of ours think th- p"s,
mess and duty Of a newspaper IS
p;,h,nons Ncws-Ieader.