The Washington herald., 1909-03-07
Mr.. Roosevelt as an Editor.

The current number Of the Outlook
carries at the head OF its first page,
along with the names OF its editorial
stan. the simple legend. THEODORE Roose-
Welt, contributing editor" It is announced
that hereafter Mr.. Roosevelt's Office will
be with the Outlook, where communica-
tions 70 him may be addressed. Thus
quickly is the transition made from Off
cial to private life. The question OF what
shall be done with our ex-Presidents has
been promptly solved by the only one we
have.
In his first contribution Mr.. Roosevelt
has some uncomplimentary remarks about
two styles of journalism that have come
under his notice. The first is the familiar
vulgar yellow journalism. reckless of
facts. cynical in motive, and degrading in
influence The other is that form OF in
teilectusl Journalism in which the once
Of critic is that Of fault-anding and subtle
Misrepresentation. Journalism OF this
type Mr.. Roosevelt regards as having
certain fascination for men Of cultivation
and refined taste, but its influence he sets
down as evil. since it teaches youth that
THE correct attitude to adopt in facing
the giant problems Of our great and
troublOus time is one OF sneering and
supercilious untruthfulness. But there
are plenty Of good newspapers. as Mr..
Roosevelt is willing to acknowledge:
Every owner. editor. OF reporter Of con
scentcusiy and ably edited newspaper OF periodical
Is an asset Of real value TO the whole community.
Il would be difficult 10 overestmate the amount Of
good which can be done by the men responsible for
such publication responsible for its editorial
columns. responsible for its news columns re-
snonsihle for its general policy. We have many
newspapers and periodicals. big and little. Of this
kind
Mr.. Roosevelt is emphatically OF opinion
ihat the Outlook Is included in this classi-
tcation. and that is why he is connected
with H. But he also finds himself In gen
eral agreement with the social and indus
trial ideas propaeated by the Outlook un-
der the guidance Of Lyman Abbott and
;he latter welcomes him to the editorial
tripod as the most widely known repre-
sentative of the present world movement
toward Industrial democracy" The object
Of industrial democracy DR.. Abbott de-
clares. is TO bring the industrial institu-
tions Of democracy into harmony with It's
political and educational institutions"
Mr.. Roosevelt himself further defines the
outlOok's policy:
1T champions the rights Of the mapv. II stand,
for the rights Of property and therefore. against
the abuses Of property. It believes in wise in
diFidualism. and in encouragement Of individual
initiative: and. therefore all the more Il believes
IN using the collective force % the whole people
to do what but for the use Of that collective fore.
must be left undone.7
Mr.. Roosevelt's influence as an editor
viii. therefore, be thrown for those eco
nomic and social reforms which he has
been advocating in his speeches and mes
sages for several years past. He has
taken little apparent interest IN purely
political reforms. such as the election Of
United States Senators by direct vote Of
the people, or the nomination Of candi-
dates IN primaries. What really concerns
him is the preservation OF individual op-
portunity in the midst Of our oppressive
civilization, and the employment Of mod
ern governments in assuring the moral
and material welfare OF men. women. and
children. Sociology is the science that at
tracts him most. and that on fits practical
side