The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-08
HEARST ON
THE DUTIES OF
JOURNALISM

~N@h
prominent business men and fnan-
ciers, including Cornelius Vanderbilt,
! Paul Morton, Edwin C. 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
M. Hearst said:
1T appears to me that Mr.. Shonts
has assembled this many Of his
friends with the benevolent purpose,
first, of proving 20 you that 1 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.
IT 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 u public capaci-
ties.
IT 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.
IT 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 I 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 I have a high opinion Of my
profession.
"I regard a 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 MS
it is the duty of an honorable attor-
ney to place the interests of his clients
above all such considerations.
eff 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 1t is the
main duty of journalism to defend.
IF journalism maintains an atti-
tude of greater approval toward other
business interests, it 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.
"I 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.
1T 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 1t affords, but for the pow
er and the distinction it 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 a
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
P1Coo0lS0.
"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
situations.
There is no proper criticism of
wealth expended in so worthy a 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 a badge of honor.
1.-THE greater the compensation the
greater must have been the service.
"But money acquired through ex-
tortion is merely a measure of dis
grace, and journalism when it 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.
s'There are certain diseases which