The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-16
NEWSPAPER ENDOWMENT
DISCUSSED BY EDITORS

sides uncounted other reports. the exact
truth of which 1t is difficult to determine
In the time allotted for their presenta-
ton TO the public.
According to our critics. some of whom
are right and many often wrong among
the prevailing defects of the present-day
newspaper, are mistakes in conception
production, policy, conduct. motive tone
style and utterance. Summing them all
UP, are these faults, IL they exist, moi
more than offset by the great good daily
achieved by public journals published
with good motives and for justifiable
ends?
But is there any assurance that the pro-
posed new recruit in the ranks of Jour-
nalism will be without faults? Perfec-
ton fs an ideal difficult to achieve in any
field of human endeavor.
the journalist cannot, of course, be held
blamable for the occurrence of crimes OF
other objectionable acts in the communi-
ty; but he can and should be held respon-
sible by the reading public for a correct
record or report of such acts or events
ana, so doing, he can make himself a
powerful ally of the authorities In their
indispensable work of ferretng out, ex-
posing and Furnishing crime, criminals and
wrongdoers of every shade, everywhere.
Besides being newspaper in the broad
and true sense, II Is to be assumed-cer-
tainly it is to be strongly desired-that
the proposed new journal will be, in the
matter of doctrine, a brave, answering
champion of the constitution of the United
| States-a stalwart defender of liberty UNI
der law, and of the indisputable right OF
all law-abiding citizens, acting either
| singly or in associated capacities, to be
| protected by the state In freely pursuing
| h11Cinncc 1ffrtr or
| scnal pathways, within the limitations OF
| law, In their own way, without shackles
| and without unwarranted and unauthor-
| lied private or leagued interference, ha-
| rassment or persecution. Unless the pro-
posed new example of reform journalism
does these things 1t will not truly serve
the great body of the people, which II
| Ia the business of a public journal to do
and it will not succeed
! So far as / am concerned | am per-
fectly willing to see the suggested ex-
| pertinent tried. 1t will be interesting
and notable. and will surely arouse a far
| flung public interest.
| Without attempting to speak for other
editors or publishers. / do not hesitate
to predict that such a journal as is here
| outlined-and many such-would be well
coined to the field. and, joining hands
| with others having like aims, aspira-
| lions and ends, all marshaled In an en-
battled phalanx. would still further In
CT tease that puissant force devoted to the
best good of the country and all Its
worthy citizens. So can republican liber-
ty. self-government and those sacred pop
| ular rights vouchsafed by the constitu-
ton and the law be best preserved and
| perpetuated
No great journal worthy of the name
will either barter its columns, yield to
unjust popular clamor or wear hackles
no matter by whom forged. 1t must stand
fast, showing itself always bold enough
and Independent enough to support the
| right as Its lights have enabled 1t to see
the right and brave enough not to recoi
an inch before the mad march of the
III reasoning mob
| Furthermore it is to be taken for
| granted, In the very outset that the
newcomer will make itself a strong stall
| wart. uncompromising adversary of law
lessness, evil and all forms of corrup-
ton, in places high. low or median and
at the same time be ever willing. always
ready to hold UP the hands and to cheer
the hearts of all good men and women
whether humble or lofty. animated by
worthy aims. who may be found honestly
striving on right lines to better their con-
dition and the condition of their families
their kind and their country.
| HARRISON GRAY OTIS,
| EultOT loS AuSeleS llIleS
BY w. M. Clemens. General Manager
/ Memphis. Tenn. News-Scimitar:
| The greater the power, present ani
| coming, of an agency, the more exactins
| OF character in that power should be
the court of last resort-whch is the
people.
| A newspaper or papers backed by the
| wealth of a Rockefeller or a Carnegie
1 or lon Of
power should be INDUCED or allowed only
| If its hacker was entirely non-material
| il sentiment. No man or set of men
nor government is free from temptation
/ that in any sense or to any degree re-
CARDS the material as anything but the
means, and inconsequential. Men will
pursue their pearl of great price, finally
and materialism, even of exalted purpose
has somewhere it's price.
The government itself, because of its
| great strength and also its imperfections
expressing as 1t does the aggregate char
acter of the people,. 1t even should not
control the press. Nothing should that
has the power that could give perpetuity
and yet Is not perfect. The press should
| be left among imperfect competitors,
where no one has strength enough to be
invincible and must grow or decay. ac-
cording to his virtue or vice.
The press must feel the cleansing fric-
ton of competition. There must be left
room for the operation of the law OF
selection and survival of the fittest. Even
| halfway perfection must not be forth
| fed with absolute power and strength
This principle operates to retard and
check the growth of government owner
ship and government ownership will de-
velop only as the government is perfected
| This is the law and has been.
| How much more closely, then, must this
law be observed and followed in the vital
matter Of the press, which is the eyes
the ears and tongue of the people, and
which contributed so much to form gov
eminent and perpetuate government
through its contribution to forming pub
lie sentiment Materality. institutional
| ism, should not control this source of
supply of opinion and sentiment wheth-
er that materially or INSTRUMENTATION be
| In a class or an organized government
| No phase Of materiality should be- as II
were, it's own retwrning board and the
judges of the election of its successors.
And it will not be.
w. NJ. CLEMENS,
Memphis News-Scimtiar
BY w. E. Dargie, editor Oakland, Cal
| Tribune: n
1t is becoming quite common to hear
i some one who managers to get hearing