The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-15
Mr.. WattcrsOn ON Modern journalism

the dean of American newspaperdom
was the guest of the New York Press
! Club. 1t is needless to say that the
speech which he made on this Occa-
sion was eloquent. He never makes
any other sort. If it lacked the dram
attic fire which characterized his ora
tory some quarter Of a century ago
in the halls of the national Democrat
ic convention it was nevertheless full
of the mature wisdom which comes
only at eventide.
In the reminiscent vein for which
the great Kentuckian is noted, he de-
lighted his fellow craftsmen for more
than an hour with numberless spicy
incidents and episodes.
| Neither the grace of velvet diction
nor the tone of moral earnestness was
absent from the gifted editors spark
| ling sentences.
But the chief charm Of the speech
lay in the emphasis with which he
urged his brethren of the guild to
maintain the high professional stand
ards. Too much Of sOrdid CONNER
cialism, in the opinion of Mr.. Wat
tcrson had crept into the ,cditoria!
sanctun--tOO much Of irreVerence II
things sacred; too much of subser-
viency 70 the baser rather than to the
better elements of human nature. in
this connection he enunciated four
| distinct principles; and coming from
one who has devoted his great ener.
gies both of brain and of Drawn for
| more than so years to journalism.
! they can not fail - rivet attention.
Here they are:
Il. Print nothing of a man which
you would not say to ~, zee.
"2. Print nothing o.. man in
malice.
"S. Look we'll and ;oinl twice be-
fore consigning SUSPECT o. the ~ui,
Of printers ink
"a. Respect the old am G4fend the
| weak"
These are the fixed stars by which
The Georgians has tried to steer. We
are satisfied that our readers will up
bold us in this statement. We are
also glad that our ideals of how a
newspaper ought to be edited are in
substantial agreement with those of
Mr.. WattersOn. If the disting uisli Il
Kentucky editor has not always eX-
emplified his maXims to the letter, he
| has at least, no doubt endeavored to
The Louisville Courier journal one OF
the most powerful organs of public
opinion between the two oceans.
Most of us will doubtless agree with
the veteran Journalist in what he says
further. Take, for example, this
paragraph:
"The city editor should never con-
slider himself brevet chief Of po,.ce.
the reporter a semi-professioncl de-
tective. The newspaper, with the aw,
should assume the accused innocent
until proven guilty; should he the
| friend not the enemy, Of the general
public the defender not the invader
| of private life and the assailant of
personal character.
The newspaper is not commo-
| dity to be sold over the counter ike
dry goods and groceries. 1t should
be- as it We're, a keeper of the public
conscience; it's rating professional.
like the ministry and the law: not
commercial, like the department store
and the bucket shop. It's workers
should be gentlemen, not Cavcsdrcp-
pcrs and scavengers, developing spy
system peculiarly their own, nor car
ing for the popular respect ana es-
teem.
Il know that it is the fashion to call
such sentiments old-timey, just as it
il the custom to call old men courtly
who are not actually vulgar and SLOW
eny. Self-respect is the bedrock of
the pubilc respect. There will be shy
ster Journalists, as there are shyster
lawyers; unworthy newspaper men. as
there are unworthy clergymen. But
in each calling the rule is bound to
be otherwise, and they who seek the
imprint of the higher instead of the
lower brand will be sure to find it.
IN short, | stand for the manhood for
the gentlemanhoOd, of our guild, a
profession and not trade, and | be-
lieve that in the long run the owners
OF newspaper properties will learn
that integrity and cleanliness pay the
best dividends and that good faith and
good humOr are positive assets"
Mr.. WattersOnS views on the sub
icct Of the modern Dewcna nor should