The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-03-13
rHE BROMLEY LECTURE COURSE.


The lecture course at Yale estab-
lished In memory of the well known
newspaper editor, Isaac H. Bromley,
nv his devoted son and widow, was
lgain renewed last evening in a de-
Iightful manner. The names which
ire accommodating in this roster OF
trained lecturers are annually adding
distinction to the honor Of being In
gited to be the guest of the universe
Nv. Already the course has been dig
nified by the presence of Whitelaw
Reid. the former editor of the New
York Tribune: st. Clair McKelway,
the editor of the Brooklyn Eagle. and
Charles Hopkins Clark, the editor of
the Hartford Courant. Last evening
The lecture was by Colonel George
Harvey, the editor of Harper's Weekly
md the responsible literary overseer
Of Harper's various publications.
The fear originally INDUCED in that
any of these men would of necessity
leave the topic of journalism exhaust
ed has turned out to be ungrounded.
While each has to a certain extent
covered the ground touched by the
previous speaker and lecturer, he has
been able at the same time to attach
to his analysis and discussion of the
subject the charm of originality and
personal wit. The reason for this
seemingly impossible feat can be
found in an extract from Colonel Har-
vey's address In which he points out
the difference in the points of view
held to by the accepted exemplars of
the business: ITO Franklin, the print
er, it was trade; to Bryant, the poet,
1t was literature; to Greeley, the apos-
tie, 1t was evangelism; to Raymond,
the disputant. It was polemics; to
Bennett. the cynic, 1t was manufac-
ture; to Dana, the satirist, It was
an art; to Godkin, the caviller. it was
hypercriticism. Each earned and
won renown in manner peculiar to
himself. not because he was a great
journalist, but because he was great
man-and in this respect of actual,
personal achievement the name of
Garrison, the zealot, leads all the rest"
In other words, 1t Is not at all likely
that the Bromley course will lose its
hold upon popular interest because
newspaper workers and magazine
makers continue to deal with the gem
eral subject Each lecturer will CON
tinue to produce something of his
own which will present contrasting
phases of newspaper work.
It Is a noticeable fact that all of
the journalists who have thus far
taken part in the Bromley symposium
practically agree as to the require
ments of the undertaking so far as
they relate to the character of the
worker. with the exception of White
law Reid all prove by their records
that there is no satisfactory connec-
ton between the making of a news
paper and the holding of political of
fee. Mr.. Reid has been able to force
q compromise of a dignifed charac-
ter Colonel Harvey goes farther thar
any of the previous lecturers have
gone in condemning the Journalist
who uses his position for the gratifi-
cation of political ambition. He
places Samuel Bowles of the Spring.
field Republican as head and shout.
ers above the able editors of his
generation because he never permitted
the bee of political ambition to sting
him. "Bowles was free" says Colone
Harvey. Not the least satisfaction tc
be taken in the Harvey point of view
by the average editor of to-day rests
in the fact that it is now generally ad.
mitted that 1t is a fearful error Of
judgment to make newspaper work 6
means to an outside end Each veal
it grows more difficult for an editor
to share his peculia responsibility
with any outside interest which i!
not clearly g. legitimate part of hi.
mission. 1t grows more difficult be
cause the public itself has become In.
diligently suspicious of the newspape,
editor or proprietor who uses his Jour.
nal for other than the particular worl
it is logically cut out to do. Colone
Harvey is entirely right when he saw
that true journalism and the polite.
that seeks personal advancement arr
not and cannot be made cooperative.
The greatest asset a newspaper
worker has is his professional indie
pendence, and he misses his opportu
nifty in exact proportion as he fails t
realize the restrictions which hen
him in as to outside avocations. Til.
reading community. while it is insist
ent upon the devotion of the editor t.
his work. is exceedingly generous in
its criticism of the editor who
through the courageous enforcement