davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
NEWSPAPER AS VIEWED BY MANAGING EDITORS

the sacrifices he makes for his paper
oftentimes amounts to heroism.
If he isn't gentleman he doesn't
hold his job long. And being gentle
man he will go any place for an item
and come back as clean as he went.
A star reporter on one of the tri-
city papers was standing in a group
of newspaper men who were talking
shop. He was noted for his clean per-
sonality and habits. One of the news
paper men remarked that were he a
reporter he would not go into some
of the dives" for news story, Would
your" he asked addressing the star
reporter.
I'D go to HI for an item" was the
quick response. And he would come
back just as pure of character as he
went
But I could go on singing the praises
OF the reporters indefinitely. No one
can estimate the amount of good they
do. No one can tell the influence they
WELD in shaping events for good. 1
have so often heard the remark made
that news affecting the rich can be
suppressed while the poor devil must
take his medicine" How wrong It Isl
No man who has manhood enough left
dn him to ask a reporter 70 suppress
his name in the police reports but has
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

OF the newspaper he represents his
stock in trade. He can recount its ac-
complisnments while he sleeps, and.
like the martyrs of old, sing its praises
though he be suffering the torments Of
any old kind.
But, it's the news that people are In
terested in. 1t is the gathering of news
that occupies the greater number Of
people and costs the publication the
most money. The news gatherer gets
the smallest salary, yet rides on the
wave of prosperity. He sits at the
festive board and smokes good cigars.
If he is ''onto his job" his facile type
writer will win him friends. And from
friend and foe alike he gathers his
news.
Upon the news force Of any news
paper depends its success. The re-
porters on a daily newspaper are in a
class by themselves. The good news
paper reporter is Independent, but
never arrogant. He owes allegiance to
no one except his editor. He defends
his newspaper as he would his honor.
He will go to any length to get piece
of legitimate news, and will suffer his
right hand to be cut of before he will
betray a confidence. You can trust
him with your most sacred secrets II
TfNIIf hirr1 -srvh& fr1T
down once, remember this: You will
never do it again. l knew banker
once who turned down a reporter, and
before he was aware of 1t the paper
this reporter represented was publish
ing news literally off the bankers
desk. and the reporter did not go near
the bank to do 1t.
Don't tell a reporter he cant get it,"
because he can. There is always a way
for the wideawake reporter to get the
news.
A prominent tri-city gentleman let
big contract. He was anxious to have
it kept a secret. A reporter approach
ed him and asked for it. He foolishly
denied that he had made the deal. The
reporter convinced him that he had.
But" said the gentleman, mo one
knows of 1t but myself and my attor-
ney."
You are mistaken" replied the re-
porter. You haven't counted me nor
the man who told me, and he wasn't
either you or your attorney"
You know so much said the gen.
tleman, suppose you publish what you
know
That's just what the reporter did,
and he told the whole story.
The Part of the Reporter.
Don't misunderstood this. The re-
porter is not an obstructionist- He is
just the opposite. In the incident above
related it was not necessary for him
to make inquiry of the gentleman in
question. AS a matter of fact, the pur
pose of his call was to ascertain wheth-
er he wanted the news suppressed. II
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

his request promptly granted. The re-
porter knows that there may be a
wife, children, a mother or sisters who
will suffer more than he. repeat,
thu reporter is the builder of news
4 -pers. More than that. he uses his
Office for the betterment OF society,
for the advancement of government,
and for the PRONUNCIATION of morality.
There is not a movement for good
that he is not interested in and there
is not an evil but that he would cure
The quality that makes good reporters
Is the quality that makes good men.
The Publisher.
So, IL you paper doesn't quite please
you remember that the publisher has
some things to face which you may
not know; remember that he is doing
his best and that every man working
on his force is bending every energy
and straining every nerve. 1t Is a
nerve-racking business for the news
paper must be built from the ground
up every day OF the year. There is
no time to write and revrite;" there
Is no time to consider and revise"
the heart must be in the work and
the Judgment must be responsive to,
dts best impulses. There will always
be mistakes, and there are times when
wrongs are done, but they are seldom
done with vicious intent.
Yours fraternaIly,
8. W. SEARLE.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
BY S. w. SEARLE,

editor of the Rock Island Union.)
Most people are interested in news
paper one way or another. Some are
interested in getting into it and some
in keeping out of 1t. There are those
who read it and enjoy it; than again
there are many who read it and criti-
CHE it-who say, ooh, 1 saw it in the
paper. You never can tell" THAT was
said for political purposes. 1 wonder
what's back of it." Or, 81 wonder
what's in it, anyway" And all of this
is said with the proper curl of the lip,
twist of the nostril, and with sliding
infection. You have said these same
things-or some of them-yourself.
The American newspaper is an insti-
tuition peculiar unto itself. Primarily,
it is quasi-public proposition. Second
arily, it is commercial enterprise. In
a public way, it is expected to boost
everything of public nature. 1t must
furnish the copy" set the type, and
have the circulation. 1t is supposed
that the editor is dying to publish no
tees of all of the meetings, urge public
spirited citizens to attend, sing the
praises of every speaker, put the
speeches in readable shape, tell what
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
Chance for Young Men in the Work

development OF many young men who
took up the work of reporting. Usually
they began as high school reporter,
writing up" the activities OF the
school and, as they developed, its ath-
letics and football games. BY the time
they left the high school for the uni-l
versities. they usually had had a little
vacation experience in general report
ing. They went to college with an
equipment which they could not have
had without this close contact, through
a couple of years, with real life as II
is lived, and business as it is done, not
in the home or the school, but down
town, in the whirl IL you please. At
the college or university, they were
invariably leaders in debate, in school
activities, social and literary and of
business nature. l can recall indi-
vidual cases of this kind SO numerous
as TO justify the claim that the news
paper experience was a large factor
in the fine record these young men
made.
Reasons could be multiplied as to
why young men of this type might
well enlist for life in the great army
of newspapers makers.
The reporters life is a succession
Of interesting experiences. There is
no sameness to the work, to make it
monotonous, and there is always
enough doing to make II certain he will
not be a sufferer from ennui. AS ne
progresses, by careful and consistent
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
BY r w. CRAM,
associate Editor Davenport Dem

associate Editor Davenport Demo
craft
The request that l write a few
lines for the Press Club edition
offers me an opening for saying
something that l have wished to
say for some years. This is that the
young men of the tri-cities do not seem
to be aware Of the opportunity that
there is for active and intelligent ef-
fort in the line of newspaper work.
Men who achieve great successes in
any line of work are more often ITO
the manner born than made. Their
very success proves that they early
heard the call TO the special field of
endeavor for which they were fitted.
The nature of their reward Is various.
1t may be in money, it may be in pub
lie honors, 1t may be in that inner
satisfaction that comes from the
kind quietly helped, or some small
contribution made to the sum of human
good.
In the hope that some young men
who have not yet heard the call may
discover themselves and some day be
hailed to membership in the Press
Club, want space to say few words
about the compensations that accom-
pany the newspaper life.
need hardly mention the educative
value of the work. In my years as
city editor Of The Democrat, however,
it has been my pleasure to watch the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

he had not lied In the first place and
dared" him in the bargain, it would
not have been published. A reporter
of my acquaintance once held story
for six months and never breathed a
word Of it until it was released"
When a story is ripe" and there is
no valid reason for its suppression, and
you arbitrarily insist that it be held
out" your wish may be respected in
that case, but the next time you will
not be consulted. You will never know
that your reporter friend has the
dope"
The good reporter is never OF duty.
l have known him to sleep with tele-
phone by his bed and a notebook
and pencil in his nightshirt pocket.
He has his ear always to the ground.
He can scent a news item mile away,
and then some. He knows a news item
when he sees it. To you an incident
may seem fat, but he gives 1t twist
and a turn, and, loI it is a bright, in
teresting story.
The Responsibility.
If the newspaper your reporter friend
represents says something that dis
pleases you, don't blame him, for the
chances are he didn't write it. Because,
il you have treated him right he
wouldn't say anything to offend you.
Don't ask him who did write 1t, either,
for he won't tell you If he is good
reporter, he has high sense of honor
and a loyalty to his newspaper which
forbids him telling tales out of school.
Don't be afraid to confide in re-
porter, or that he will give you away.
He never divulges the source of his
information.
A number Of years ago large ship
ment of munitions Of war was forward
ed from the Rock Island arsenal. ALI
information of this sort is supposed to
come from the commandant. A friend
who happened to know of the ship
ment confided in a reporter on one of
the tri-city papers. The reporter had
all of the information but he respected
the rules of the post and called up the
commanding officer.
'Is there anything new"
Commandant-"'No, believe not"
Reporter-"Wasn't there a heavy
shipment from the arsenal today?"
Commandant-"Who told you, sir!"
Reporter-'Im sorry, Major -
but 1 received the tip in confidence
with the assurance that 1 would not
use it unless you should see fit to give
1t to me. Now, if you don't want it
published l shall suppress it."
The major was a gentleman and saw
the force of the statement and he not
only gave him the privilege of publish
ing the story but gave him another
one equally as important
Always On the Job.
The newsgatherer knows no hours.
He works because he loves 1t, and
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
The News What the Pubic Pays For

cry large city such as Chicago, Boston
and Philadelphia, there are conspicuous
illustrations of this news quality and
quantity idea.
The field covered gives a value to
the paper according to the things the
purchaser is interested in, whether
local or general. The paper will be
selected that fills the demand. But
always the things nearest the readers
home are of the greatest interest, and
for this reason New York newspapers
are charged with being provincial
does not center in that city. A large
percentage of the news space in the
Chicago papers is given over to Chi
cago news. In the tri-cities, of course,
considerable proportion of the space
is devoted to what happens here at
home. Mrs. Jones, having read in
her paper that Mrs. Smith, a neigh
Dor, has gone to Chicago to spend Sum-
day will soon have the whole Jones
family trying to explain why Mrs.
Smith went to Chicago without telling
her neighbors about it. Mrs. Jones
also consults Mrs. Frye, another
neighbor, to discover. il possible,
whether Mrs. Smith took Mrs. Frye
into her confidence. Mrs. Jones is
interested.
Possibly someone will ask, what Of
politics? Politics occupies about fourth
place In the list Of necessary things a
newspaper should contain, unless it
is politics in the making which is news.
The other three things that take pre-
cedence over politics are, first, news;
second, more news, and third, still
more news. Honesty in reporting pol
itics in the making is an essential and
newspapers in the last 10 years have
made wonderful strides advanceward.
The report of the procedure of a re-
publican convention, for instance,
should be just as accurately and hon
estly recorded in a democratic paper
as in a republican paper. The re-
port of a democratic convention in a
republican paper ought TO be free from
all expression of opinion. If the news
paper wishes to construe the facts to
show their significance from its po-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
The Ideal Reporter and the Public

a splendid meeting it was, point out all
the good it will do, and then sign the
subscription list in a sum that makes
its bank account look like 80 cents. 1t
is also supposed to abuse its friends
and enemies alike if they chance to be
public officials, call its competitors
contemporaries names, and shoot
the dyestuff' at the suggestion of an
of its subscribers. In the event it fails
in any of these, it is dead one" and
it's too bad that the town can't afford
a good newspaper"
AS Commercial Proposition.
AS a commercial proposition, it is
compelled to meet its pay rolls In cash
once week, pay its news print bills,
met, cash 80 days." and should it
chance, "by mistake to present to an
advertiser his statement twice within
the month, have him "cut out the bus
mess"
1t has but two commodities to sell
advertising space and news. Advertis-
ing space comes as a matter of course.
The sale of 1t Is sordid business, de-
void of romance. The advertising sales
man soon acquires the Lydia Pinkham
face, adjusts his sensibilities to a
WATERFOWL" basis, cultivates a per-
suasive voice, and makes the virtues
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
BY J. E. HARDMAN


(Managing Editor of Davenport Times)
When a man goes to a news stand
and buys paper, what does he expect
to get? Paper for the pantry shelves?
No. Advertisements? No. He is buy
ing news. When the lady OF the house
meets the collector at the door and
hands out the weekly, monthly or
yearly purchase price for the newspa;
per she is buying news. In other
words the important commodity which
a newspaper publisher has to sell is
news. A paper without news might sue
coed as a weekly or a monthly by
making its appeal along some other
line. but a daily paper without news
is inconceivable.
Advertising Is a by-product. 1t is
immaterial that the present-day news
paper could not exist without adver-
Using patronage The fact remains
that without news the papers would
have no circulation and without circu-
lation they would have nothing of
value to offer the advertiser. But it
happens that the newspapers profits
come from its advertising patronage,
just as the profits of the packers come
from the by-products of the hog and
the steer and the profits of the circus
mana COR Gonna from tho rocorvad caat
sale and the side show. But just as
the packer must properly handle the
meat and sell so that consumers will
be pleased in order that he may make
his profit from his by-product, and as
the circus man must put on a good
show or he will have no one to whom
to sell reserved seats and no one to
visit his side shows, so the newspa-
per must print the news If it would
make a profit from advertising.
This ought to throw some light on
the relation of the business Office to
the editorial room. Without the news
the advertising cannot be Sold With
the news, circulation grows and the
advertiser must use the paper if he
would reach many customers stimuli
taneously and economically. In other
words, the policy of the news depart
ment of the paper must dominate, and
no newspaper worthy of the name will
permit itself to be dominated by any
other influence, Notwithstanding the
claim sometimes made that advertisers
try to dictate.
But to return to the man who goes
to the news stand to buy a paper
why does he today buy the same paper
he bought yesterday and the day be-
fore? He has found by experience
that his favorite newspaper is accu-
rate in it's statement of the facts and
honest in its presentation. A paper
must be free from corporation con-
troll. from political dictators, and finan-
cially Independent enough to take
whatever course the men who make
IL DelGeve Is right regardless Of the |
consequences. And when the reader
discovers that corporations do not con-
troll it, that the men who make it are
honest, that no Office holder or would |
be Office holder dominates it and that |
what it says is said solely because the |
publishers and editors believe the |
thing is true-such paper begets con-
fidence that cannot be shaken by big |
headlines and red ink.
News being the commodity that is |
for sale, the buyer having weighed |
the quality of it naturally looks at
the quantity. The paper publishing |
the largest amount of accurate and |
trustworthy news is preferred. In ev.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
PUTNAM
B IL IN O.
w. C. PUTNAM ESTATE, Owners

w. C. PUTNAM ESTATE, Owners
This modern 8-story,
steel frame, fire-proof
office building at the
corner of Second and
Main streets, Daven-
port, will be ready No
vember |, 1910. For
space apply to Edward
K. Putnam, Mgr, ZIG
Brady ST., Davenport
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

CONTINUED on Page seven.)
The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-10-04
Increase Police Force.

Los Angeles. Cal, Oct. 4.-Stirred
by the fact that the bomb explosion
which wrecked the Times plant and
killed 20 men has created an emer-
gency with which the police force is
finding itself unable to cope, the
city council passed an emergency
ordinance at special meeting
which authorized the immediate up
pointment of 40 additional patrol
men, 10 sergeants and one lieu
tenant.
These men will be used to hunt
down and imprison or drive out of
the city men who have been known
to express sentiments condoning acts
of violence and others who have
been in trouble with the police de-
partment since the labor troubles
began in Los Angeles several months
ago.
A proposal was also discussed to
raise the city's reward for the de-
tectien of the bomb conspirators
from $4,000 to $4,000. IL was
determined to make the reward
The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-10-04
Timber Jacks Surround His
Cabin. His Son and Daugh.
ter Are Wounded and Town
is Guarded By Deputies.

Winters, Wis. Oct with
armed deputies stlll guarding win
ters and scores of woodmen surround
ing the cabin of John Dcitz. the out
law of Cameron Dam. lighting and
possible bloodshed exists today IN
the long standing feud between the
authorities and Dc.tz. Myra Deitz,
% years Old. Is at the point OF death
at the hospital as the result OF gun
shot wounds inflicted by deputies
when she and her two brothers were
ambushed saturday One brother Is
wounded and In the Winter Jail and
the other escaped and Joined his
father.
Dictz sent word into Winters that
be would visit the place and Kill ev-
cry man responsible for the shooting.
bu, the warfare is being pushed Into
his territory. Barricsded In his
cabin with Dcitz are his wife and
three children. Deitz first ran
amuck several years ago when he
refused TO give up his homestead
claim 10 lumber syndicate.
The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-10-04
SHIP GOES DOWN
WITH ALL HANDS
SCRAMBLE FOR LIFEBOAT RE
SUITS IN A WHOLESALE
DROWNING IN PACIFIC.

Colon. Oct. 9.-seventy persons
persisted Tuesday in the sinking of
the Pacific Navigation company s
steamer chiriqua. according to a let
ter from Jarachine. One hundred
passengers struggled to enter a life
boat lowered before the vessel lifted
and sank. Less than dozen fought
their way into the life boat. The
wireless operator rushed to his cabin
when the explosion occurred. but
before he could give a distinct signal
the ships stern hopelessly lifted.
The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-10-04
HARDY BUGGY co.
BUSINESS GROWS
COMPANY REFLECTS Old III
RECTORATE AND OFFICERS
DECLARES DIVIDEND.

Stockholders of Hardy Buggy Co.
met Yesterday afternoon in annual
meeting 10 elect directors. The
directorate was reelected and inn
mediately met TO elect officers. All
old officers we're elected except Vice
President j. Wheeler Campbell, who
was succeeded by Mr.. II. c. OVERLY.
Mr. Campbell couldn't serve longer
owing to his having gone to Louis
Vile 90 reside. A per cent divi-
dend was declared. The report to
stockholders was the most satisfac-
tory IN the history OF business. Or
doris for next season now on the
books Indicate that the company VIII
more than double the business of the
Year just ended.
The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-10-04
Dun Registration.

Registration Of voters was slow
today and the officers report that Il
was the dallcst day that they could
remember. OF course the weather
was to blame. aud the percentage of
voters who registered Is expected To
be the smallest In years. The polls
will remain open until o'clock this
evening aud every Republican voter
should register In order that he can
vote this fall. Considerable trouble
was experienced az some OF rho
registration places this morning be-
cause Of the failure OF some OF the
officers TO appear. At some precincts
three officers held the registration.
sheriff George lIouser was out early
this morning rounding up the ON
GERS.
The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-10-04
SIX MONTHS FOR
BREAKING JAIL
ON GUILTY PLEA
bad Eye" Dan Williams and
Walter Williams Are Sen.
fenced 10 Jail.
Two Are Acquitted and One
Convicted Today.
CASES ~ CRIMINAL COURT.

FOR escaping from the county Jail
Nan Williams. colored. alias bad
Bye" and Walter Williams. colored
will fcrye six months in the same
Jail. This morning In circuit court
they pleaded guilty to the charge
and escaped with the lightest pun
ishmcnt The charge OF Jail break
ing against Dave Slagle was set for
Thuutlgt
m four trials this morning In cir
cult court there we're two acqulttals.
one convictions. and one jury hung
Henry ncll coiorod. was found
guilty of houscbrcak.ng He broke
into the siorcroom Of the 1.ax-Fos
company and stole goods Ruby
Jones. oolofod. was acquitted OF the
charge Of malicious cutting. Tom
Cole. colorcd. also was acquitted Of
the charge OF mayhem.
The trial OF Robert Cook. charged
With grand larceny. was held this
morning and the Jury acquitted him
Frank Minor. colored, charged
with malicious cuttinE pleaded
guilty 90 the charge OF cutting in
fufden heat and passion and was
lined SEQ.
TIE trial Of Dave Fitzgerald.
colorei. chargcd With petit and
grand larceny Ras continued,
George Barnes was indicted on
the sharrc 81 petit larceny. bat he
has been tailed N county court. and
thr suse nea iisnisfod.- Z
The efand jury did not iniict G.
" Ncah. charged with hitting Ice
Walsion ever The head With a poker
IN q melee in resort.
Fannie Jones w. N. Jones; an
nwcr flied
=. Bailey w. c. D. nailcls answer
lloi.
T.. T. Mallory was excused az a
petit juror and John Fitzgerald was
cnpannclcd TO an the vacancy.