The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-16

recent reports that Andrew Carnegie ano
John D. Rockefeller are at least eontem-
plating the provision of funds for the
establishment of national newspaper OF
newspapers which are to be conducted on
an absolutely non-partisan and non-sec.
tartan basis. unin1uenced by any other
consideration than the public good, has
aroused much public interest in this sug-
gestion.
With view of ascertaining the views
of the newspapermen of the country, men
who are peculiarly fitted to express an
opinion on such subject which will be
worth listening to, the Publishers Press
has secured the opinion of some of the
leading editors of the United States as
to the necessity for or possibility of sue
cess of newspaper endowed either by
private or public money. Some of the
most interesting opinions expressed fol-
low:
BY Harrison Gray Otis, editor and pub
Usher of the Los Angeles Times and
Mirror.
l have your letter of the LIST inst, stat
Ing that the suggestion has been recent
~ made to Andrew Carnegie and has APP
parently been taken under serious consid-
Grafton by him. that he endow national
non-partisan and non-sectarian newspa-
or Washington; and also that the Rookie
Teller foundation should endow such a
paper.
You ask my views on the project am
IN favor of it. Not that there are not
already enough newspapers both large
and small, published in the United States.
out here Is a unique journalistic project
which may evolve something new-some-
thing worthy the public attention as well
as the attention of other journalists.
do not favor the project merely on
the ground Of 1.-The more the merrier.
but on the ground that the opportunity
may possibly be here presented, through
the patronage of Mr.. Carnegie or Mr..
rockefeller, to demonstrate whether the
rest of us-we journalists who are al
ready in the field. serving on 1.-THE rough
edge of battle" so to speak-are or are
not doing our duty by the profession and
by the public whether we are leaving
weak points in our journalistic line
through which an aggressive and critical
opposition may rush in and take us '.in
reverse" which is an unfortunate mishap
to any commanding general, showing lack
or ability on his part to protect his rear
while advancing his front.
The publication of a great newspaper Is,
In some particulars, like the fighting of
great battle, hence I will be pardoned
for thus falling slightly into the military
style In making my response.
You project into the arena of discus
sion the following leading questions:
Cd AS matter of fact, are not the
great American newspapers, as at pres
ent conducted, fully competent to deal
with all questions which may arise in the
best interests of the people, and do they
not with very rare exceptions SC. deal
with these questions?
t2) Have not the newspapers as at
present conducted, become greater, more
positive factors in the fight for the public
welfare than any newspaper endowed
either with public or private money pos
sibly could be?
go Would 1t be possible for a newspa-
per endowed either publicly or privately
TO be so conducted as to either merit or
receive the public confidence in the same
measure that the great privately owned
newspapers do at PRESENT."
To these questions | respond briefly as
follows. Although the subject would
Justify a treatise. have no intention of
writing one at this time:
% Yes. think they are competent but
sometimes they miss the mark. 1T Is
human to- err and we journalists are
not yet quite divine! tex zsyr 81 zs
t29 Yes, and the old stagers tile vet
Grams in the field of Journalism, are in
small danger of being crowded off the
track by any newcomer endowed either
with private or public money" But let
the newcomer rise upon end, no matter
where 1t may begin its march. or who
may command its columns who direct
its advance. We will return its opening
salute and say: Sail in, young brother,
and show us your paces,' No recruit
on the field of action, however we'll
backed, can do the work of a veteran. 1t
is service, and right service, that fits a
great public journal to lead.
go Your third question Is substantially
answered in my response to the second
n Y11of Or hat 1,o f1,o av.o ni,1
backing, the pretenses or the personnel
of the newcomer it cannot expect to wiz.
In minute, or to secure public conf
dence, in the outset, 'in the same meas
ure or to secure public confidence. in the
outset. "in the same measure that the
greatly privately-owned newspapers do at
present" No journal can reach a posi-
tion of power. influence, complete effec-
tiveness and genuine success unless its
patronage comes from the goodwill and
support of the great body of the people,
won on merit and not through the mere
expenditure of an ample endowment
fund.- supplied by even so genuine a phi
ianthropst as is Mr.. Carnegie. q have
NO idea- however, that Mr.. Carnegie
really entertains such project.)
A great journal is a public institution,
not merely privately owned or privately
controlled instrument, even though 1t be
the inspiration of single mind The ex-
pedient of an endowment fund to put the
proposed journal on its feet might do as
starter, but not for long. Legitimate
and permanent success Is to be achieved
only through voluntary, wide and liberal
public patronage, given on the merits.
The healthy and successful journal must
have large earning power; 1t must make
money in order that it may have money
20 spend-money to secure more news,
more talent, moro literature. more paper
and Ink more machinery. more skilled
workmen, more of everything that goes
into the production Of a complete present
day journal. AS general proposition.
every progressive newspaper ought to cost
its publishers for It's production moro
each year than the publishers spent on
n u the year before. 1t must, in the last
resort, run upon Its own resources. upon
Its own earnings.
character of the endowed" journal that
has been proposed (matters to be decided
by the founders themselves), it is, 1 take
1t, to be assumed that 1t will be, first and
always. a newspaper; that 1t will impair
TALLY and honestly print the news, and
al the news necessary to be given to the
public every day. even though some of
the news be occasionally disagreeable to
the editor and to some of his readers.
The policy of suppression or distortion
Of toning down or "coloring up news
policy demanded by some mistaken.
thin-skinned or obAque-thinking people.
= not justifable journalistic practice.
What Is required, then, for the sake OF
the truth and ITO broadly enlighten the
public, Ia the news comprehensively gath
cred, carefully edited, intelligently classi-
ned and clearly printed; not distorted nor