The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-20
Who Owns Your Newspaper
strasgiss Of the Proprietor Affect the
Freedom and Truth OF metropolitan fress
BY VIII Irwin In Ceiiier's-

eminent doesn't put the screws on
bondholders; and when II comes TO
railroad news or editorial. he leaves
II absolutely to the staff-we've def
mite orders never TO talk railroad
with him"
I asked almost the same question
Of q western publisher. He began as
a penniless reporter: he has succeed
ed through entering cities where the
light Of the press was screened. and
Illuminating the ugly places. He Is
rich now, and powerful.
II begin In my own home" he said.
my wife. thank heavens, has no so
cial ambitions!"
The home line drawn by Henry
Watterson binds me also; IL prevents
me from citing large, obvious ex-
amples of the social influence. since
wives and daughters enter into the
account. l may speak, however. In
general terms The editors Of one
American newspaper receive from the
List A" and List B." List A" Is
long; II includes all who have assist
ed the owner and publisher In his
social struggle. The people on that
list are to be treated kindly, mention
ed pleasantly; In the absence of the
owner, any and all news must be sup
pressed at their demand. II Is diff
ferent with List B." which Is shorter.
These people have offended the
boss" Their names must not be
mentioned at all unless they do some
thing disgraceful. Then-as the edi-
tors express it-"Soak EN-" And
List A" and List B." formulated
or unformulated, written or unwritten,
rest In the bottom drawer Of many
and many an editorial desk. symbol
Of an exploited profession.
The Opposing Pulls.
Let US. In closing, look one thing
squarely In the face. Though we
view society as radicals, not as Tories.
we must concede to the other side the
right to an organ. That a man takes
the side Of property IL no crime. So
ciety proceeds by checks and bal
ances. There must be radicals, or
we shall have rule by barons; there
must be conservatives. or the fagots
will blaze behind street barricades.
A newspaper which stood openly for
class and corporation rule, wrote its
editorials and colored its news to that
end, would be a worthy, dignified and
honest institution. BY no such meth
of do our barons proceed: and our
quarrel Is with the method. Publicly,
the controlled newspaper. assumes to
exercise its ancient ONCE OF tribune
OF the people. Privately, It serves
wealth. Publicly, that II may keep
subscribers, II pretends to favor
progress; privately, that II may guard
its owners sources OF revenue and
social position. It suppresses and de-
natures news which would asst that
progress. The system IL dishonest TO
its marrow.
Let Us clear our eyes again, and
face another fact. Circulation and ad-
vertising. the people and the interests.
exercise opposing pulls on newspa'
pers. Advocate popular causes clever
" enough, and you gain circulation.
n you do not believe In these causes,
and howl them out only to increase
subscription lists, then are you q
dishonest publisher. Newspapers
have built on this policy. and built
only to betray when they got them
selves established. But the ratio OF
this kind of dishonesty TO the other
and deeper kind Is the ratio between
circulation receipts and advertising
receipts--or about one to four.