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
M. WINS, William Randolph Hearst
was asked to speak on Journalism. ~
Mr.. Hearst said:
1T appears to me that Mr.. Shonts
has assembled this many of his
friends with the benevolent purpose
first, of proving to you that l 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.
II will proceed at once, therefore
to the discussion of our public capaci-
ties.
II am here as a newspaper man.
have been asked in this symposium
of varied interests to speak on any
subject as long as 1t is associated
with journalism.
81 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 1t was red, and am
glad and grateful also to have as
signed to me subject of journal.
ism rather than of politics.
'I know something about journal
ism, and have high opinion of my
profession.
81 regard newspaper publisher as
an attorney retained by the people to
protect their rights and their inter-
ests.
81 believe 1t to be as much the
duty of newspaper publisher, to
place the interests of the people
above all questions of personal
friendship or personal advantage as
it is the duty of an honorable attor-
ney to place the interests of his clients
above all such considerations.
IL 10
In active and critical opposition to cer-
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
disposition of the business men in
control of these interests to entertain
a 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.
ut is but natural that the Ameri-
can business man should develop this
higher conception of the duty of
wealth, for the American business
man does not accumulate wealth for
the luxury it 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 does
not, in this day confer distinction.
There are two ways in which q
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 way
in which he makes his money.
There is little to be criticised in
the way in which American business
men spend their money.
"They spend so little upon them
selves that they may often be recog-
nized by the plainness of their ap-
parel and the simplicity of their
pleasures.
"They spend some part upon their
families, as they should, but they
almost universally spend the greater
part of their income in the creation
OF new enterprises or in the endow-
ment of charitable or educational in
stitutions.
There is no proper criticism OF
wealth expended in so worthy man.
ner.
Nor is any proper criticism of
wealth acquired through service rem
dered the community.
But there Is proper criticism and
ever increasing condemnation of
wealth acquired through extortion
and destructive speculation.
Money made in proportion to SER
vice rendered is badge of honor.
The greater the compensation the
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 methods
but registers the rising tide OF popu-
lar resentment.
"The American people will no
longer tolerate business methods
which are essentially unjust and un-
fair.
There are certain diseases which
are cured by the toxin which they
themselves create.
There are certain evils that are
remedied by their own excesses.
"And extortion in business has 30
aroused popular indignation that It
will soon accomplish its own undoing.