New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-18
WkITERSON ON THE PRESS
Louisville Editor Tells OF Chang
ing Conditions.
LOSS OF PERSONALITIES
Period Of Transition-Outlook
for Editorials-Jour-
nalism' Aim.

Toronto. May f.-Colonel Henry water
son addressed the Canadian Press Associa-
ton to-day on the changing conditions III
the newspaper profession.
In answering questions put TO him he said
that newspapers were losing the affection
of the people because of some OF their
methods He characterized as brutal the
publicity given by some newspapers TO the
private affairs Of a young woman of Wash
ington and an italian pobleman, presum-
ably Miss EIkins and the Duke OF the
AbruZzi
Colonel Watterson was TO have spoken
at a dinner tonight, which was postponed
because of the death of King Edward VII
Colonel Watterson said in his address:
There is more written and said. and less
thought, about the profession OF Journalism
in which we are engaged and to which we
have dedicated our lives than about any
other topic of familiar discussion. =.
assume il to be a profession. Yet II is
without any code of ethics or system OF
self-restraint and self-respect. 1t has no
sure standards either OF work or duty LIS
intellectual landscapes are anonymous, lts
moral destinations confused IL not impal-
pable The country doctor, the village
LAWYER knows his place and keeps II; is
certain traditions: modest and keeping
within bounds. though he may be learned
and f 1ne be he of city
or town, has few If any mental perspeet-
ives to. fix his professional horizon, no
canon laws TO guide his wayward foot
steps, neither chart of precedent nor map
of discovery upon which his sailing lines
and travef lines have been distinctly
marked He is a law unto himself. too
often a free lance, only the more Self-dS-
sertive because he lacks assured position
and is without authority.
There are those who even profess to dis
dain the name of journalist while proclaim
ing the power of the press. The affectation
of infaIlibiiity, assumed by the more pre-
tentlots to hide the sense of fusufticiency
if not of inferiority communicates itself TO
the obscure and initiative, sometimes de-
generating into foolish and childish bonn
hast. According to once received opinion,
anybody could keep hotel and edit a
newspaper. Our reading, like our victuats,
was i'll dressed; the point of view, like the
bill OF fare. wanting discrimination ana
variety. with frequent changes OF editor
and landlord. l agree that we have re-
formed this measurably, though the news
papers have scarcely made as great prog
ress as the hotels. They are yet what
DIR. Rush called them. vehicles OF dlss
tointed thought" carrying the curse OF
excel" There seems continuity nowhere
The panegyrist of yesterday becomes tue
critic of to-day, the aSSailant or to-fnor-
row, and, as the average purveyor Ior the
the average dairyman the water ne puts
into his milk, newspaper lucubrat1on De
creases in Importance ia the proportion
that il increases in carelesSneSS, the space
writer having his daily grind to do. and
pursuing lines of least resistance, not al
ways in his worry and hurry, heedfui OF
justice and accuracy AS | am myself an
old offender and have in my career perpe.
trated all the sins | enumerate, let me at
one and the same time serve my warrant
and crave Your pardon.