Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-05-03
THE CHI tNGE IN NEWSPAPERS
No Longer Political Organs of
Particular Party.

81
Traer Star-Clipper: The change
which has come about in newspa-
pers in the last few years is we'll
worthy of remark. We can we'll re-
call the time when each political
journal was in fact an organ of
some particular party, for which it
stood without reserve. When "the
ring" had forced q platform through
convention made up of men
chosen by the ring, the papers took
it up announcing it as the voice of
the people and fought the battle for
it as though it were a divine fact.
Adverse criticism even of the mild
est sort was rank heresy, and the
party organs showed no mercy for
the critic. The time came when
thoughtful men saw that their
journals were but the megaphones
through which the ring was speak
ing. The comparatively few indie
pendent journals which dared to
speak out were blacklisted by the
regulars, held as erratic rule or
ruin mavericks. But a few years
since a different order began to ap-
pear. Editors here and there began
to realize that it was not part of
their duty to act as claquers for
rings or ring made up platforms.
Their true vocation was to stand for
the highest good of the public. If
leaders were self seeking and care
less of the peoples interest, such
men were to be opposed. Platforms
were to be carefully analysed and
the people put on their guard. At
first such editors found rough sail
ing. but hammering away they in
troduced a new era in journalism
Now 1.-The party first, last and all
the time" kind of paper is at a dis
count. 1t is at last generally recog-
nized that it is the Office and duty
of the public journal to lead off in
the effort to show the way in ad-
vance of the convention and, so far
as may be possible, make ring rule
impossible by arousing the public
on the issues pending to such a de-
gree that the people will compel
due regard to so deal with issues
that it will aid in the forming of a
right and intelligent public opinion.
So largely are the journals of to-
day acting on this principle that
certain class of politicians are being
weeded out in a marvellous way,
though many Of them are men of
such ability that had they stood for
the people they could have retained
their places indefinitely. But when
the lime light was turned on and
the people discovered the real sit
uation, these men saw their finish
near at hand. Some have sought
to save themselves by announcing
their acceptance of the new order,
and while a few may have saved
their Bacon" the people in general
are suspicious of sudden CONVEX
sions, and they will find themselves
as taken on probation. In the
meantime we believe there will be
no regret on the part of the indie
pendent journals. They will hold
their ground and their number will
increase. The people are waking
up to the real Office of the public
journal and are holding in increas-
ing contempt those of the namby
pamby, non-committal order as we'll
as those who, yielding implicit SER
vitude to the party whip, continual
ly watch the leaders" in the politi-
cal game of Simon says thumbs
up" 1t is already clear to the most
casual observer that the most wide
ly read and the most influential pa
pers of today are such as do not
hesitate to speak out against Ill ad-
vised action on unworthy candi-
dates, regardless of party lines. The
public now demands two things,
bold advocacy of the essential right
and absolute fairness under all con-