The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-08
THE MoDERN NEWSPAPER.
nv Frank p. MacLennan.l

I
I know that DR.. Sheldon, when he is
| the speaker alone, can fill this entire
room. Certain empty pews lnd1cate
that when he is Handicapped by two
newspaper men, it is difficult. rms
may show, however, that it is easier TO
secure a newspaper hearing at two
cents than it is for twenty-five cents
confess that it is with diffidence
appear upon the same rostrum with
! Rev. Mr. Sheldon to discuss the news
paper question, for we all remember
that he conducted a daily paper in To-
peka about eleven years ago and broke
all records.
Since that time no Topeka paper has
been able, with all its efforts, to even
| approach the circulation secured. Mr.
Capper will admit that the circulation
of the Topeka Capital took big slump
when DR.. Sheldon left the paper and
returned to the pulpit; and while that
paper has made a great growth, 1t has
never been able to reach the output
enjoyed when DR.. Sheldon was at the
head of the staff.
The modern newspaper is really a
| factory of complex and diversified pro-
portions. But it must never manufac-
ture the product with which it has
most to deal and which constitutes the
principal thing it has to sell-the news.
| To manufacture the news IN its
columns would be, fatal; to make. it
out of the whole cloth despicable. The
|
that news which is made for it by 9TH
ers. Any one and every one makes the
news of the day, that which the news
paper alone is forbidden to make.
Moreover, the newspaper must not
sell that which is one of its important
lfeatures-its opinions.
The newspaper collects its contents
tby scurrying to and fro by wire, by
ear, by every method of transporta-
ton, turns what it gets into metal lines
by the linotype machine. into leaden.
pages, into plates by the stereotype
foundry into sheets by the press
three or more complete folded papers
a second clipped from continuous
roll of blank paper, miles IN length;
then served by carrier or mail While
the events are still new.
| The modern newspaper is the daily
newspaper. Two in Topeka are both
daily and modern.
1t may startle you somewhat to
\ learn that the two Topeka daily pa
pers spend together, on their daily
editions alone, about 81 900 each day.
The white paper consumed for each
issue amounts to several tons. "A car
| load lasts less than a week
| 1t costs the State Journal much
more than a thousand dollars a month
to merely deliver it's papers each even
ing to Topeka subscribers and doubt
not the similar expense for the morn
\ ing paper runs well up into the hum
dreds.
It is indeed a poor home in this city
that does not have its daily newspa-
per at the breakfast table or around
the evening lamp.
| Some days the people make for the
paper big news, good news, important
news. On other days there is
ldearth, but always there is something.
Generally the days problem is to find
room for the news, rarely to find the
filling.
| A Vehicle of Truth.
The fit newspaper is vehicle OF
truth, bearing news, necessity ana
entertainment and information to ev-
| cry household, and announcements OF
| other necessities, needs or 1uxurieS Of
fered by those who use its columns Tor
publicity. The newspaper adVertlse-
ment is the most effectual. convenient,
prompt word from those who have TO
| sell what others need to buy
You who are gathered here to
study the greatest of books know that
even in the Bible there is much that
is trivial that is unimportant' ana
even scandaIous and does not look well
in print, but yet it is the book of
/ books, the great moral guide, re-
lIigion's chart, full of the good, the true
and the beautiful
| So while the modern newspaper may
lseem to many to contain much that Is
of small import, like the Bible, it ap-
peals to all classes, and acts for the
uplift of the reader. There is In it
much that is worth while. The press
and the pulpit are often referred to
as great influences. Each spreads in
ItelIigence and each puts forth what 1t
believes to be the truth.
If the good newspaper wields
larger influence than the good preach
err, it is because of two factors:
First, because it deals more closely
with the daily life of the people and
fine persons and things which affect
that life.
Second, because the audience of the
newspaper is vastly greater Those
who see the printed word are innumer-
| able compared with those who hear
that spoken. The newspaper extends
i the good words of the preacher 10
thousands who do not reach his pews.
| Religion has ever been one or the
worlds most potent Influences.
i The newspaper is a modern crea-
ltion. while religion dates from the be-
ginning of humanity There We're
good reporters centuries before there
were newspapers.
The story of Ruth ana Naomi was so
well reported centuries ago that it is
ever read with renewed interest Mat
! thew and Mark and Luke and John
were star reporters 1900 years ago.
and their copy turned in on the ser
mon on the Mount has made their
Il names as reporters, as well as dis
ciples. immortal. PauPs Epistle to the
Corinthians IS far more delightful than
the average modern letter from YER
Iitas, old Subscriber or Pro Bono Pub
leo.
The newspaper is largely made up
of the reuorters' work While paper
is said to have been made in the early
DAVIS of creation; for the wasp is de-
> cIared to have been the first paper
maker, yet it remained for the last
century to combine the paper and the
reporter to make the modern daily.
Importance of the Reporter.
The most important man about the
newspaper is not the one who writes
, the opinions but the reporter VINO gets
the facts.
Opinions and editorials are not so
important as the facts Without the
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