The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-16
KANSAS CONTENT
A NEWSPAPERS PERSONALITY

NEWSPAPERS PERSONALITY.
When William M. Laffan died the
other day the world generally learned
more about his life and his work than
1t had learned during the whole of his
long career. Even readers of the New
YORK Sun, of which he was principal
which he had been connected in one ca
/ pacity and another for more than
thirty years-bLrring one short interva.
knew little about the man. His per-
/ sonality was sunk in his newspaper.
Mr.. Laffan differs little In this re-
spect from many another editor and
publisher. Once in while-through an
essay Into politics or some similar d.
version-a publisher becomes known
Tor work aside from his paper, but the
great majority of men who are reSpon
sible for these organs of publicity and
puDhc opinion are comparatively I'M
known outside of the profession Their
! publications become well known and
acquire personality and character
that are distinct and unvarying, but
the men responsible often are not
known apart from their publications.
A peculiar phase Of this matter is that
the men prefer 1t so There is little
vanity, little desire for widespread rep
utation outside journalistic circles; they
are content apparently that the publ
cations shall absorb their personalities
and that they shall be known only as
they are reflected through the printed
page.
But the newspaper in time becomes
more than the personality of a single
man. Usually one strong individuality
Is responsible for the direction 1t takes
and then its bent is developed by 9TH
ers of ike temperament who appre-
ciate the ideal and seek to help in its
| realization. So it is not so strange as
1t seems at first blush that the New
York Sun, which was popularity sup
posed to be Charles A. Dana. should
have remained the same, in all its es-
sential aspects, during the administra-
ton Of VIM. M. Laffan and 1t will be
| occasion for little wonder If it remain
substantially the same under the
guidance Of the new directing head,
whoever he may be.
In England the London Times has
had the same character since it's
foundation; in our own country, the
Chicago Tribune has pursued sub
stantially the same policy through
changing administrations; coming near
er home, the Kansas City Star has
established a personality and a distinc-
ton all its own that have varied little
as men have come and men have gone
In its service. This is due to no mere
imitation of the founder but is the re-
suit Of subtle influence that comes in
time to pervade the shop and affects
all the minds that go into it's making.
The newspaper that does not sooner or
later. win for itself such an Individual
lIy 10 OcSlLieu LOT a SHOrI career IN us
f1eld.-Hutchinson News.
PROTECTION AND PLENTY.
A Democratic candidate for con-
gress wants to. know If the people
realize they are paying two cents a
pound more for sugar than they
should on account of the "robber
tariff" The price of sugar depends
upon the kind, supply and quality
cane or beet, coarse. fine superfine,
scarce or plenty, No one can say
that the tariff increases the price, The
price Is now about what 1t has been
for years-some grades being cheaper
Still. the Democratic candidate must
have something to complain about.
| But he doesn't explain that the gov
eminent places duty on sugar in
order to raise needed revenue How
could the people have free mail de-
livery if revenues couldn't be raised
by the tariff. If they don't want to-
pay for what they enjoy they can go
to free trade and do without That
is one way to get things cheaper-put
everything on the free list and do
without many things we are now
able to buy under the Republican
protective system:-Hiawatha World.