The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-10-17

ness meeting was held by the brother
hood, after which the special program
for the evening was commenced, DR..
Barr speaking first, followed by Mr..
Pringle. Refreshments were then
served and the guests came down to
The Gate City Office.
The Editorials.
DR. Barr said that not ten per cent
of the readers of paper read the edi-
torials. Strenuous efforts are made to
ge. the people to read the editorial
page. One plan is to widen the col
nuns on the page and make them
stand out more prominently, also by
using larger type or orna-
mental type. These things at
tract readers as does also a
peculiar literary style, such as that in
the Hearst papers which uses all Of
these methods to get the editorials
read. Another method used, is to use
brains. Henry Watterson stands as
the last leaf on the tree of this char
acter of editors. The late Sam Clark
OF Keokuk had great following on
this account. The editorial pen should
be dipped in brains instead Of ink.
The Chicago Tribune has special writ
ers attend to the editorial page in
stead of having salaried men. In this
way, although costly. 1t brings valu-
able and excellent articles.
The reprinting of editorials shows
their value. The editor whose article
is copied in fifty papers, feels that he
has been successful, but If the article
is not copied extensively, it is a dis
appointment,
The subjects t. be used for editor
ials, is a difficult problem. Men who
have TO grind out two to FIVE columns
OF editorials every day, often run out
OF ideas. The search for topics is a
great problem. The late S. M. Clark
never had trouble of this kind but he
was an exceptional man and never
was at a loss for topic.
It is hard for an editorial writer To
keep from being a common scold
There is great temptation to dc
this when the writer has no subjects
assigned to him. The manner in
which topics shall be handled, de
ponds upon the owner of the paper
or his representative. The editor NAV
often be of different opinion than the
policy of the paper. This policy used
to be political, but the day of the strict
party paper, is passing and it is hard
now to find big daily paper which is
strict party organ. The greatest in
f1uence on paper, is the business in
terests OF the town The advertisers
have but little influence on the edi
torial page; it being greatly exager
ated
The reason for the existence of a
newspaper is question many people
have different ideas of. They are not
published to save the country or re.
/ form things. The real reason for the
existence of newspaper is to make
! money
Gathering the News.
Mr.. Pringle followed by telling of
the work of gathering news for the
paper of today.
From local viewpoint, the most es.
sential thing Is to have a corps of
men who know news when they see
it. Getting the news and getting 1t
accurate, Is the desire of the news.
paper man.
The newspaper reporter does not
quit work when the paper is out He
Is always at work.
Gossips are the bane of newspaper
men and cause trouble. The cub re-
porter must learn many things and
the most valuable man is not the one
who wants to print everything. but the
one who knows what not TO publish
In keokuk the city is divided into
districts with reporters to cover them.
The more a man covers his territory.
the more news he gets. After making
the rounds, the reporter returns to
the office and writes up his items
putting them in shape for the print
ers.
A newspaper must never miss an
item of real news.
The fclapraph odJforcp x-~..1,