The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-29
KEEP ON PREACHING, MARsE
HENRY. -

the New York Press CLUB last nlSH @s
% d,nnerTriyen in his honor. He is the
dean of the American Press, marVei-
ously sprightly youth for his tender
years, and ono of the really great
thinkers of the country. He has been
in the harness for moro than fifty
years, and he Is as fit now as when
ne began his brilliant career. He told
nhe boys last night great many in
lter.st,ue things. with just enough
"Reminiscences in them to mako tho
candles blaze up IN their sockets to-
wards the shank OF delightful eve
ming with the most refreshing old EEL
low that ever was. Time never was
since we have known him. and we
have known him ever since we lived
An Garrard County, Kentucky. when
! ,Naeze Best was adding to his string
Of gentlemen with whom he could not
ar,ee. and therefore put to sleep, when
Mr.. watterson could not give good ad-
ly.ce to the youngsters who fam would
shine In his armament. He gave the
members of the Press Club some very
wise and very much needed counsel
last night, when he asked them to
carry these precepts in mind and heart
in the pursuit OF the hard but most
fascinating profession of Journalism:
1. Print nothing OF a man which you
would not say to his face.
q. Print nothing OF a man in malice.
8. Look we'll and think twice before
consiEntng q suspect to tho ruin OF
printers ink.
4. Respect the old and defend the
weak
That is safe chart for any man to
follow. It does not matter that Mr..
watterson appears to get away some
times from 1t, but in the brief compass
of these four fundamental principles
he has packed the wisdom of his long
service to the public. He Is no mailing
erer IN the sancturn; he told the young
fellows last night that he could hole
his own with the best of them In gath
ering and collating the news: that HI
could distinguish what's news AM
what's not news even down to the frill
and founces of Park Row and the Ten
derloin resorts of Herald Square. PRO
Mded they be open and above board
clean and truthful, and not furtive ant
ignoble." Mr.. watterson then Happliet
his text" in this wise:
IT draw the line at straight lying and
the station house. The city editor
should never consider himself brevet
Chief of Police, the reporter a semi
professional detective. The newspaper,
with the law, should assume the ac-
cused innocent until proven guilty:
should be tho 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 a commodity
TO be sold over" the counter like dry
goods and groceries. 1t should be, as
it were. keeper of the public con-
science, its rating professional, like the
ministry and the law; not commercial
like the department store and the
bucket-shop. Its workers should be
gentlemen, not eavesdroppers ane
scavengers. developing a spy system
peculiarly their own, nor caring 70
the popular respect and esteem
IT know that 1t Is the fashion Il
call such sentiments old-timey. just a
1t Is the custom TO call old men courtl
who are not actually vulgar and sloY
enly Self-respect can never grow OBJ
solete, and self-respect IS the bed-roc
of the public respect. There will b
shyster journalists, as there are shys
ter lawyers; unworthy newspaper mel
as there are unworthy clergymen. Bu
in each calling the rule is bound to b
lea
print of the higher instead of the lowe
brand will be sure to find it. In shor
| stand for the manhood, for the ger
tlemanllood, of our guild professio
and not trade, and believe that
the long run the owners of newspape
properties will learn that integrity an
cleanliness pay the best dividends an
that good faith and good humor al
positive assets"
That is true conception OF hig
Journalism The sentiments are, il
deed. "old-timey." but they are nonegth
less exactly adapted to these days.
spite of their cheapness and vulgaritS
that Is to say, if there are to be an
better days in the years to come
is true, as we have had occasion NOR
than once to observe, that Mr.. Waiter
son does not always how to his ow
line. For example, in the Balhnge
case. he did not "assume the accuse
innocent until proven guilty.: but 1t
entirely safe TO practice what
preached to the Now York Press Gu
Good faith and good humor are po
tive assets" We wish both Press al
Public could remember that
Long life to you. "Marse Henry
You must feel q little lonesome
times. because all the men OF your 81
have gone over to the great majorit
but there never was q time when y,
were more needed right down hero
the footstool. Heaven can wait I
you; but a very considerable space
journalism would be empty wttho
you.
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NURSING AND WosLANHooD.
DR.. Henry Beates, Chairman of