The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-15
BY VICTOR R0SEWATER
Editor Omaha, Neb., Bee.

huiCoI OIUana, NeD., Bee.
Mr., Victor Rosewater, editor OF tic
omaha Bee. expressed his opinion on the
question OF the endowed newspaper, I'm
repiE TO criticism OF newspaper methods
DN Prof. Edward A Ross in a recent
magazine. Mr.. Rosewater SAYS:
INC Indictment is that the newspa per
ialls TO give the news and of course. if
IL iaiis In this which is its principal mis-
SION and raison etrc, II Ia worse than
useless and time devoted 10 newspaper
reading is time wasted I would he the
| last 10 assert that the newspaper as it
eN)sts today. is fautless or that import
ant news is not sometimes suppressed.
although more often through mistake or
negligence than through desire. But the
loea which Prof Ross would instill. that
the newspaper OF today is a greater Of
tender in this respect than the newspaper
OF days gone by. is almost self-contradic-
tory. The facilities ard resources for
gathering news are so much greater now
adaYs than formerly that the amount OF
information OF public interest given news
paper publicity is many times multiplied.
me scarchliSht penetratcs To every nook
and corner. and the opportunity for those
directly interested to suppress news by
intercepting it at lis source or on It's way
10 the public has been almost completely
DESTROYED. The hurry and speed with
which the news is put out each day in
successive editions under stress or the
iiercest competlton-and the strongest
getting the news first and scoring
beats or scoops on one another
make the suppression by one paper of
news almost certain To he spread forth
by rival papers, one Of the rare occur
rences rather than The commonplace
which Prof Ross would have us believe.
NOW. what Is the important news
which we arc told is being suppressed?
Prof, Ross cites a few examples which
he believes are flaEraut. ana reasons on
the theory OF false In one. false in all.
Ia hlp tlnt
would ne impossible 10 find two expert
enccd newspaper men who would agree
on what certain classes or news items
are OF unusual importance. but IL would
not take long 10 develop unrcconcilablc
differences of opinion as 10 specific news
items. The customary rule of tho news
paper office is 10 put the most important
news each day on the front page. Vet
the contents OF no TWO front pages are
ever alike. even where each has at it's
disposal every item the other has. What.
then, makes news important: And does
the wealth or business prominence OF
criminal make important an oncnse tha
would attract small attention, if any. in
a man in ordinary station? IL not one
of the wcll-founded criticisms levcled at
our newspapers because they give undue
weight 10 wealth and hlazou the folblcs
and folllcs OF the millionaire In space
that might better be devoted to some
thing more useful? IL crime commit
ted by an advertiser more important Than
the same crime committed by some one
'Incidentally. ii must be remembered
that the newspaper is a leGall-' responsi- !
bile institution that can be. and is, held
10 answer in damages for libel. II Is |
easy for irrcspoDsibcS 10 circulate ru-
mors rejecting on people s reputatSons
and slide ont from under when the lurid
tales arc disproved. Loose talk and idle
gossip are altogether different from cold
cannot say it did no, print II or meant (
10 say something else.
because newspapers as rule prefer
construction to destruction. they arc ac-
cused by Prof Ross Of ulalfeasance for |
selfish purposes. True. Il newspaper de- !
ponds for its own prosperity upon the !
is published. The newspaper sclfishly /
prefers business prosperity to business
adversely.
"a panic is largely PSYCHOLOGICAL. and |
the newspapers can do much ia aGEra- |
vate or 20 mitigate its severity. There |
Is no question that to the willul efforts |
OF the newspapers as body TO allay
public fear and 10 restore business conf |
dence is TO he credited The short duration
and comparative midUess OF tic last |
financial catacIysm. Would an endowed |
newspaper have acted differently? Most |
people would freely commend the news I
papers for what they did To start the |
wheels of industry again revolving. and |
this Is the FIRST time ! have seen them
condemned for suppresslng important |
news of business calamity and industrial |
distress in subsewience 10 a worship OF /
advertising revenue
1--WE are told that partisan nawspa perg |
suppress news rejecting on tn" party and |
party leaders or mcnacing party success. |
II so there is always a partisan paper
OF the other party sure to print it.
Not only do ! deny chat democracy !
has been struck a staggering blow by
the detection of the press but | assert |
that modern democracy is as mach |
product OF the newspaper as the news
pauer is product OF democracy. y few !
black sheep in the newspaper fold DO not
make the whole nock black, nor do the |
combined imperfeCtions OF all newspapers
condemn them 10 failure, Personally.
would like TO see the experiment Of an
endowed newspaper tried, because ! am
convinced comparison would only rebound /
10 the advantage OF the newspaper Dri-
yatoly conducted n commercial under
taking. The newspaper most akin 10 the
endowed newspaper in this country. is
published In the interest OF the CHRISTIAN
Science church. With il. important
news is news calculated TO promote the
propa sanda OF the faith, and close in
epertion OF its columns would disclose
news suppression in every issue. on the ;
other hand, daily newspaper standing
10 make IT'S advertising space valuable
and without q reasonable effort 10 cover
all the news and command public conf
donce the standing and cientaPe OF the
naner cannot he successfully maintained.
'The endowed paper pictured 10 MS as the
ideal paper. run by board oi governors.
filled ia turn by representatives, OF the
various uplift societies enumerated by
Prof, Ross would blow hot and would
blow cold would have no consistent
noIicy or princples. would he unablo 70
siitutcs important news. and would bs
from the outset busily engaged in work
OF news suppression to suit the wlmc
nj the particular hobby riders who hap
Dened for th" moment 10 DE IN donina'
ting control"