The Detroit times., 1910-11-16
SAYS PUBLISHER
IS ACCOUNT TABLE
James Schermerhorn Speaks Before
Sphinx Club CT New York at 10th
Newspaper Night Dinner.

NEW YORK. Nov. Thames
Schermerhorn. president and general
manager OF The Detroit Times, was
the principal speaker at the one hun
dred and tenth Newspaper Night
dinner OF the Sphinx club, celebrated
last night in the Waldorf-AstOria
Short speeches we're made by y. &.
Wright, OF the Cleveland Leader; &.
w. Post, Battle Greek; S. w. Cold
berg, OF the Now York Mail; Patrick
James Murphy and Frederick Timothy
Murphy, If New York, and Frank w.
Aldred, OF Providence, r. |. The Ginl-
bel brothers We're among the guests
OF honor at the dinner.
Mr.. Schermerhorn subject was "A
Newspaper Publishers Accountability
to His Readers" and he spoke as fol.
lows
There was stubborn disputant who
wound up controversy by shouting
am arsuin' win You, understand
m Just a-telltn' you"
| am not going 10 argue this ques-
tlon. | am lust telling you that both
business and brotherhood bind the
puolsher and his reader closer than
client and lawyer. patient and doctor
As the soul of David TO the soul OF
Jonathan. they are knit together for
the common good.
might as well speak TO the unreplying
sphinx as to the bQly that has gone
TO the Egyptian plains for a name,
For even the silence Of the centuries
The mAgaxine publisher does not
have 10 prove that his IL the best ad-
yertislng medium in the world. he
The newspaper publisher does not
have 10 debate hts obligation to the
reader. He boasts OF IT.
He ukes the white paper with moth
ans sSk sSSa Ne 1rsih su 1fsi
faster than tho Arabian Gees shed
tb cir medicinal gum Paper and ink
flashing from the press tell what he
has done with his talents He Is ac-
countable.
With him accountability is an aspir-
alton. In his prospectus he seeks the
constant reader only that he may serve
him. He Is as ready to be his de-
fender as the signing swain is eager
10 die for his hearts desire. There
may be dwindling OF ardor on the
part OF both later; but the publisher
cannot get legal separation.
Accountability is an affirmation; we
come to fll lonE-felt want" is the
form II takes in the salutatory Later
a waspish contemporary, correcting
the newcomers logic or syntaN, may
slip in question, Is the greatest mis-
take its contemporary has made since
II got out it's first number
Accountability is an asset Because
Of the publishers proclamation that he
In public educator he gets a special
postal rate, advertising sections not
excepted, and seat with citizens in
carriages whe great hunters come
home to resume the chase.
The PUBLISHERS accountability is in
dividual Whatever the republic may
tivism--the era OF single handed SUI
pervision OF newspapers is here. Marse
Henry Watterson's IMAM on horse
back" maybe: but In policy and per
saddle Of his and every other great
This is not monarchy but necessity
Not enough Of an innovation to be =,
that other gallant Journalist OF the
south. Mr.. Clark Howell. were here, as
I expected he would he, he would
hardly be terrified into constituting the
situation az an attack on the "Consti-
tuition"
The reader knows who is account
able. and Il sometimes happens that he
calls the publisher TO account by stop
ping his paper. by trying 10 stop the
publishers paper by enlistinR fed
eral help TO give his circulation the
silence treatment on the government
The publishers Accountability being
without question and without division.
what are we here for? lust 10 say
that the patriotic publisher stands as
pat and unprotestinR on this PROPOSE
ton as the EphinX and Obelisk.
Daily he repeats the new psalm OF
service: II am the good publisher 7
know my readers and am known OF
them The good publisher calleth his
readers by name. They know his voice
and come in unto him The good pub
fisher giveth his life for the readers"
(COntinued on page 49,