The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-05-12
HEARST ON
THE DUTIES OF
JOURNALISM

ciers, including Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Paul Morton, Edwin G. Hawley, F. p.
Frazier, Frank Underwood, Robert
Mather, Frank A. Vanderlip, H. p.
Dawson, Harry s. Black, William e.
Corey, Theodore P. Shonts, Judge
Gerard, Judge Mclean and William
NJ. WINS, William Randolph Hearst
was asked to speak on Journalism. I"
Mr.. Hearst said:
"It appears to me that Mr.. Shonts
has assembled this many of his
friends with the benevolent purpose,
first, of proving to you that I am not
as black as I am painted, and, sec
ond, of proving to me that you are
not as black as you are printed.
81 am perfectly willing to concede
both of these propositions without
argument, as far as we in our private
capacities are concerned.
81 will proceed at once, therefore,
to the discussion of our public capaci-
ties.
81 am here as a newspaper man.
I have been asked in this symposium
of varied interests to speak on any
subject as long as 1t is associated
with Journalism.
II am glad to find Mr.. Shonts in
the broad and liberal frame of mind
of the young lady who liked any
color as long as it was red, and am
glad and grateful also to have as
signed to me a subject of journal
ism rather than of politics.
II know something about journal
ism, and have a high opinion of my
profession.
II regard newspaper publisher as
an attorney retained by the people to
protect their rights and their inter-
ests.
II believe it to be as much the
duty of a newspaper publisher, to
place the interests Of the people
above all questions of personal
friendship or personal advantage as
1t is the duty of an honorable attor-
ney to place the interests of his clients
above all such considerations.
"If journalism is sometimes found
In active and critical opposition to GER
tain business interests, it is merely
because these business interests have
come into direct conflict with the
rights of the public, which it is the
main duty of journalism to defend.
"If journalism maintains an atti.
tude of greater approval toward other
business interests, 1t is because of the
dtcnndtfinn nf "a httc IN
control of these interests to entertain
broader and higher conception OF
their duties and responsibilities to the
public.
81 believe that there Is an ever.
growing tendency among the most
thoughtful and the most progressive
and the most influential American
business men to consider themselves
merely as trustees of power and
wealth which it is their duty to EN-
ploy in the interest of the public.
''It is but natural that the Ameri.
can business man should develop this
higher conception of the duty ol
wealth, for the American business
man does not accumulate wealth fol
the luxury 1t affords, but for the pow
er and the distinction 1t confers.
wealth, by whatever methods ac
cumulated, may confer power, but
wealth accumulated by unjust meth
DDS certainly should not. and doe!
not, in this day confer distinction.
There are two ways in which /;
man of wealth may gain the esteem
of the community. -
Zone is the way in which he spends
his money, and the other is the wa!
in which he makes his money.
There is little to be criticised IL
the way in which American business
men spend their money.
"They spend so little upon them
selves that they may often be recog
J nized by the plainness of their ap
parel and the simplicity of thei
pleasures.
"They spend some part upon theil
families, as they should, but the!
almost universally spend the create
| part OF their income in the creation
OF new enterprises or in the endow
/ hiShe Va huiiLauic VI cuuCdtlUudi III
stitutions.
There is no proper criticism o
wealth expended in so worthy a man
ner.
Nor is any proper criticism o
wealth acquired through service rem
dered the community.
But there is proper criticism ant
ever increasing condemnation O
wealth acquired through extortiol
and destructive speculation.
Money made in proportion to ser
vice rendered is badge of honor.
''The greater the compensation tn,
creator must have been the service.
But money acquired through ex
tortion is merely a measure of dis
grace, and journalism when 1t in
Weighs against such business method
but registers the rising tide of popu
lar resentment.
"The American people will NJ
longer tolerate business method
which are essentially unjust and un
fair.
There are certain diseases whicl
are cured by the toxin which the.
themselves create.
There are certain evils that ar,
remedied by their own excesses.
"And extortion in business has o.
aroused popular indignation that
will soon accomplish Its own undoine