Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-23


Charles w. Fairbanks and John P Cavit,
superintendent Of the central division of
the Associated Press, who spoke ex-
temporaneously.
speech of watterson.
Colonel Watterson told of the stand
taken by him many years ago against
the dead head system then in vogue
in newspaper circles and prophetic of a
new era in Journalism when passes and
free tickets would not hamper the edI-
torial policies.
In this connection he said:
Something more than thirty-eight
years ago, to be exact, the first Of May,
iS7S-a long time betwixt dinners and
drinks--I stood where 1 am standing now,
guest OF the Editorial Association of
Indiana. asked to take pot-luck, and in
cidentally to talk about Journalism
Not until the coming of your hospit-
able invitation did l have occasion to re-
cur to the hslf-forgotten episode and to
read over again what I had said to my
brethren of the Hoosier press. 1 discov-
cred at least nothing to alter or regret.
Albeit, the emanation Of a very young
man, 1t laid down a line of principles
and standards of conduct he has during a
long and busy life striven to illustrate
and live up to.
Not a little OF what was said in 1873
would read trifle trite now. The press
indeed, has outgrown many Of its short
comings. But l am going TO read you a
short passage because it is in a way IL
Illustrative and reminiscential and has a
touch of humor to it. 1t appears that I
al ktF.r yl,at I .rfI .1l -.
dead-beat system" and the dead-head
system" and that I relieved my feel
ings with the following:
Would Pay as He Goes.
First Of all comes, Of course, the
dead-head system. which is the parent of
the dead-beat system; free passes. free
tickets and free postage. You will all
! applaud the sentiment that it is best to
pay as We go, and there is not one of
you but believes in the man who asks
favors of nobody; who Is the slave OF
nobody; who minds his own business, re-
lies upon himself. and lives as such a
man is likely to live, an upright, indus
trious and decent life. How can a man
realize this character who submits to the
tacit corruption and quasi-indignity of a
free ride over a railroad which gives it. in
order that 1t may be able to command his
silence or his support; or a free admission
into the theater, which is meant to Sc
cure an unfaithful complimentary notice
OF the performance next morning; or free
transit through the malls. which is so
obtained by a collision with local poll
ucians and courthouse rings, which are
too often interested in newspaper publ
| cations?'-
The dead-beat system and the dead
| head system are things Of the past. They
will never trouble us more The news
paper is so far a commercial institution,
subsisting on the law Of supply and de-
mand that Its representatives have ceased
70 think it merit to pay their way like
| other people. With scorn they resent all
largess unless 1t comes through treaty
| stipulation with foreign countries estab-
fishing International relations and other
wise exemphfying the power Of the
fourth estate and the freedom of the
press"
In conclusion Colonel watterson said:
on the whole the newspaper has made
genuine progress these eight and thirty
years In the DAYS o. pistols and coffee
for two it was rather more blatant than
Ib6iI-TcSpctllilBs II 10 uOW IdNildl AlOA e
self-respecting than blatant. With assured
position have come a distinct precision
OF aim and lf-possession OF carriage.
With the sense of moneyed independence
has risen the sense of direct RESPONSE
bility
Personal Element Necessary.
The personal can never be wholly OBJ
liberated from journalism. AS there mus
always be a man behind the gun. there
viii be always a man behind the printing
press; somebody in authority. 1t is i'm
material whether he work upstairs OF
downstairs, be he editor or publisher and
never so modest and reserved, If he holds
the place OF control. he can not hide him
self from the community in which EI
lives.
"As the public comes 10 be better edu
Gated the virtues and not the vices o.
the newspaper will command priority
IN the market Disinterestedness the
handspring. good viii and good cheel
the solar eystem Of upright journalism
the decent the truthful. the unselfish-
not inconsistent with the sturdy and tn'
4 iust-wul more and more characterize
the ambitious among the conductors anC
, the workers Of the daily press, for thes,
in the long run are the only qualitie!
which will insure prosperity ana success
Este perpetua! To be kindly, honest
fearless, cspable-that is all-speakine
the language and wearing the habliment
/ Of the people and the time; the plain. pa
! triotie. unprete0tious people; bone o
their bone ana flesh OF their flesh,
sincere and at the same time an effec
tive deliveranee OF their better thought
: their loftier purpose and their noble
I aspirations Never 10 seek office, Nevc
. 20 take gift stock. Never to touch cam
paign money. These are the precepts tn
E young journalist should hang upon n
, bedpost