University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-03-22

Colonel Henry Watterson, editor of
the Louisville Courier-Journal. is
unique as the last of his type. A char
acteristic which is manifest clearly in
him. as it was in many of the. great
editorial writer's who have preceded
him, is the distinct personal flavor he
puts into his profession. That the
sole survivor of these dominating ed
litors will have disappeared when Col
onel Watterson's obituary is written,
| Is doubtless due to the intense COM
mercial character and many-sided-
ness which has come into the profess
sion of the newspaper-making within
the last decade or so-the speciliza-
ton of the business-which has left
little room for one personality to DOM
mate the whole.
The editors name does not now ap-
pear at the head of the editorial page,
hence the editorial utterance has no
personal significance. The leader"
which stamped the individuality of the
editor Of yesterday, has given place to
brief, pointed, vari-viewed opinions.
perhaps not mechanical in their meth
Tod of treatment of the events of the
day, yet sufficiently so as to hide the
identity of the writer, to stamp him
as simply a cog in the machine. The
editor Of today is rather a director of
others than a writer himself.
This is why Henry Watterson stands
alone. Colonel .Watterson is pre-emi
nently an editorial writer, moulder
of opinion, a leader of men by his pen,
and a shaper of national affairs. He
is concerned in the making Of news
paper first and foremost through its
editorial page. In the days of the
"broadside" he would have held a
front place, and the "broadside." in
effect. would be the journal of today If
it had depended upon Colonel Wat
terson to evolve from it the modern
newspaper.
The distinguished Kentucky editor
presents differing aspects as he is
looked at from varying viewpoints.
Thus one critic sees in HIS style of
personal journalism but the manifes.
tation of a small-bore individuality,
ready at any opposition to descend to
controversy and abuse when argument
does not avail. This is popularity
seemingly inseparable from the edito.
rial school represented by Colonel
Watterson.
Take Greeley, for instance, his ir-
ritable nature was constantly running
counter to other natures, and his per:
sonal rivalries and animosities reap
peared in the editorial page Of the
Tribune. 1t is said that when Gree,
ley was aroused, he used to fling him
self at his desk with volley of oaths
emitted in a piping treble. and then
scrawl down a violent diatribe in
which epithet was more conspicuous
than wisdom"
This is a marked characteristic of
the old-time one-man editor, and the
trait is easily discernible on the edi-
torial page of the CourierJournal
when Colonel Watterson is at home.
Other readers of the Courier-Jour-
nal see in these biting paragraphs but !!
brilliant flashes of virile wit or sar-
casm, and value the editorial page
more highly for that reason.
1t is not altogether clear that the |
of the Watterson type
Of editor is an indication of advance
ment. True, it is in harmony with the |
trend of modern newspaper-making. |
the subordination of the individual to |
the institution, the emphasizing of the |
completed whole rather than it's parts. |
But in this subjugation of the living,