Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-01-16
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
OPPORTUNITIES OF THE PRESS

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE PRESS
The Grand Forks Herald has in
stalled a new perfecting press in it's
newspaper establishment at Grand
Forks, that will enable it more
promptly to serve its growing num-
Der of subscribers. This tendency on
the part of the leading newspapers
OF the state to add to their equipment
as rapidly as their circumstances will
permit and to give the people of the
state as good paper as conditions
JustlIy, and In great many in
stances better paper than financial
considerations warrant, is sign of
the progressiveness of the newspaper
proprietors and speaks well for the
state.
The Tribune has added to its news
service and its mechanical appliances
at no small expense, in an endeavor
to give the people OF the west
ern part of the state a paper
that shall have the news, and
that shall fifty represent the sen
timent of the growing Missouri Slope
country. A newspaper is splendid
index of the health and moral tone
of community and the Tribune has
sought to keep in touch with the best
and most healthful public sentiment.
And that reminds us that there is
opportunity in the state for good
many publishers of newspapers to
lend a hand for the general uplift-
ing of the press of the state--to make
the state press more influential and
progressive, and a greater factor in
the decision of public questions. The
wiping out of the personal element
in newspaperdom-at least that ele-
ment that leads one newspaper pub
Usher to attack another who may diff
Ter with him on public questions
would be sign of Improvement.
Readers are no more interested in the
er-by is interested in the quarrel in
strange family. Neither is this ten
dency healthful or uplifting. Grocers
who differ do not publish their diff.
ferences, nor do lawyers or doctors
or members of other professions
Public questions may be discussed
without unseemly heat or excitement
and men may differ without filling
lot of columns with personal abuse
Hasty and sensational attacks upon
public officers-men who in many
cases are seeking to do their duty as
they see it-are to be deplored, no
matter what the stake. Public men
are entitled to the same fair treat
ment that private citizens demand
and yet it has become a habit with a
feW-we are glad to say a few
newspapers in the state to fly at the
throat of every political opponent
without excuse or consideration
These malignant and bitter attacks
tend only to lessen the opinion the
average man has of the justice and
fairness of newspaper criticism. It
has come to be rule with fair mind
ed and reputable newspapers that ev-
en- a political opponent should receive
courteous and fair consideration in
editorial columns
ripper and more careful considera-
ton of public questions, whether ma
GOnal, civic or state and a concise ex-
preston Of the conclusions reached is
frequently of service and influence
and is part of the province of a good
newspaper-and there are many coun-
try Weeklies in the state to whose
columns the older newspaper men of
the state look forward with interest
and read with profit and benefit. There
are many-we are inclined to believe
too many---newspapers in the state,
and the financial necessities of many
of them may be reflected in their edi.
foria1 or business conduct. But, with
al. there is a standard of dignity and
courtesy to opponents that every
newspaper man should seek to attain
in a small way and he should shut his
columns to abuse and venom, how
ever much it may seem to be neces.
sary from any standpoint whatever.
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The Tribune has expressed the be-
lief that Bryan will be the demo.
cratic nominee at Denver and sees
no sign in the times that warrants
a change OF that opinion. The rank
and file of the democratic party in
THE country seems devoted to the