The Detroit times., 1908-02-07

learn OF the magazines in this Import
ant matter.
All this Is pretty much about the
newspaper What about the publics
What has IL a right TO expect OF Its
newspaper? Does the mission or the
newspaper differ from the purpose of
the commercial body In whose name
we are met? | should say that IL does.
You seek with all possible earnestness
good oo ana Srestness OF sprins Se The
newspaper, IL true to it's highest mis-
sion. seeks the commercial good ana
greatness of Springfield and something
more, something greater. IL seeks the
social, the moral the political good
OF this prosperous center, as we'll.
Your aim Is singular, necessarily, as
II requires concentration, policy OF
intelligent selhshness to build up ma
terial greatness In a community. Tho
newspapers scope Is more inclusive
other things than barter and trade.
population and prosperity: IL must be
less selfish: 1t must stand for things
at times that seem TO spell. at least
hardship. This does not mean that the
newspaper should not hold compan-
ionship with you. members OF the
farthest limit OF cooperation and good
understanding. But strict regard
for the highest welfare OF ALL the
people sometimes forbids that it should
walk with you all the way
Newspaper Cannot Serve Two Masters.
1t sometimes occurs 10 prominent
citizens and commercial bodies to be-
come societies for the suppression of
the news. Upon such occasions the
voice OF the large advertisers becomes
the voice OF God. An outbreak OF
smallpox or the Insolvency OF o bank
are supposed to be privileged from
alarm and hurt business. Yet there
stands your editor, his endeavors dedi-
Gated to all the people, bound as with
an oath to their protection from banks
that 20 10 the bad over night or pesti-
lences that stalk abroad at MONDAY.
No man--not even publisher-can
shall he serve In this case-the Com
mercial Club, zealously desiring the
extension OF the industrial and mer-
camille importance of the city. or the
mightier, more commanding voice OF
the whole public?
You know which master the news
paper MUST serve generally, from the
standpoint OF self-interest. But, have
you any. doubt where it's duty and it's
honor should lie? You want sympa-
thetic understanding on the part of
your newspaper. but you do not want
servility. You want reasonable CO.
operation, but you do not want abso-
lutte subordination
No, be plenteous in suggestion II
you like. but slow to command or die
tate. Leave your newspaper free TO
interpret It's duty in terms OF helpful
service TO the entire community, un-
awed by influence, unbribed by gain.
and unterrified by a visit In force from
the press committee OF your common
cial body
ters affecting the great body OF citi-
zens--matters OF national. state ana
municipal concern-the newspaper
should hold fast TO that finer concep-
ton OF public usefulness which makes
II at once an impartial chronicler or
the passing days and an inspired In
terpreter OF the great lessons which
4 IN W n
into that heresy that so often possesses
the minds OF the mighty and the In
huential that newspapers were not
born to blush upcensored and waste
their fragrance upon the unfettered
air, This will do for 81. Petersburg,
but not for Spring over there in
his dauber and obilterates everything he
deems unsuitable for the people TO
read. Have you noticed how long it
is taking the morning to come In Rus
Wherefore. let our organized bust
ness circles address themselves to
fairer purposes than Keeping Things
out OF print, for there is no progress
ment. no social health In suppression.
II should be the chief concern OF civic
bodies 10 safeguard newspaper .publi-
city as the surest guarantee OF liberty
and the forerunner OF correction and
reform.
Never let II be said that our com
federacy with scoundrels i'm Keeping
~ out of the papers" Let the light
OF newspaper publicity continue TO
be what the highswinging electric
arcs are to the byways OF the city after
nightfall-a protection and n deterrent
against evil. quite as sublimely In
this age OF social and political cropping
does the cry go forth as II sounded In
the days OF creation, Let there be
light" Which. being interpreted.
means. start the printing presses"
Beneath the rule OF freemen entirely
great, the pen IL mightier than the
sword, and II IL be an honest and fear
less pen let IL write on and never deny
IL the privilege OF saying. for veal
or woe. What have written I have
written" For only through free and
untrammeled press will we learn what
In amiss in our social and Industrial
arrangements. and bring I'm better
and fairer day. All is not well be-
cause all II hidden, even N the poor
misguided ostrich plumes itself upon
this cherished delusion.
Publicity Not n Crime breeder.
But what of the baneful effect. the
brutalizing influence OF sensational
news, OF criminal reports, upon the
weak and the vioious2 III presented
not too we'll. but wisely, the record
OF the evil mon 90 with the punish
ment that follows r. more OF n deter
Fent-than a suegestion to commit
crime. Anyway, the warming the I'M