Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-10-13
SUPPORT THE PRESS
RACE PAPERS SHOULD % BET.
TER PATRoNIzED ~ NE.
CROEs

MAUI pHNE nO
TER PATRoNlzED ~ NE.
CROEs
In the modern commercial world
there IL perhaps no more striking ex.
ample OF the power OF the press tor
developing an enterprise than that
given by H. J, Sslfridge In his Lon
don department store,
London century ago had her own
standard Of commercialism and ex-
ploitation and the method was quite
az un-American as London Is.
The merchants believed In dignity
at all times: they did not encourage
idle curiosity. Then Mr.. Selfridge.
very American and atlame with nerve
and ideas, entered the staid city. and
one morning all the papers were alive
with his advertisements.
He told what his store contained in
three-inch headlines, he gave the pol
Icy of the Institution in long columns.
he whetted the public curiosity. and
then lived up to the expectation OF
the people. Truly. London was sur
prised and London was indignant, but
London was also curious, and today
as a result OF the Selfridge idea the
big stores are advertising and becom-
ing more of public institution than
they have ever been.
In America we need no example OF
what the newspaper does for the de-
partment store. 1t has built the loop
district, and SO potently is this recog
nized that stores in other parts OF the
city desiring additional trade are, be-
ginning to use the paper columns ex.
tensively. All are seeking patronage
because without the peoples co.opera.
ton no institution can exist
Now the newspaper itself IS also
business proposition. Run along Diff
ferent lines perhaps. but with the
same fundamental principles govern.
ing its well being.
Perhaps no other business gives so
much for so little. The best brain OF
the country is called for its columns.
No branch of life is left unnoticed, It
Is history, literature. dictionary
of everyday life, and 1t Is absolutely
dependent on the populace for Its ex-
istence. Other institutions supply
physical needs that are constantly re-
occurring. but the newspaper supplies
! the mental need which is at all times
uncertain in its demands.
A famous writer cnce said that mo
man could be ignorant who kept him
self familiar with the newspaper 1t
gives the best expression to all events
and ideas in the most concise man.
ner possible. And the news In accred-
tied papers is absolutely dependable.
AS an institution it Is the keynote
of a race or nation. 1t reflects the
trend OF thought and lends color to
public opinions 1t molds and shapes
mems minds and ideas according to
the brain which creates 1t. 1t is a
dominant force Of far-reaching intiu.
ence thatcannot be escaped or crushed
Grimes are prevalent. but we're II
not for the newspaper and its ever
watchful eye crime would perhaps be
the rule rather than the exception.
Moreover more movements toward
right living and right thinking are di
rectly traceable to the press than tc
any other public organ. To the cities
the papers are like the rapids to great
bodies OF water, ever cleansing and
readjusting them. The local news or
gan watches over the community
points out the immoralities, brings tt
light those things which are for the
public good and which. were it not
for the paper, would often be over
looked or silenced.
AS an evidence Of progress the pa
per is monument to the race. Tc
our race this Is especially true. Ills
only in very. recent years that We
have recognized the need for records
and histories of our daily occurrences
but the negro newspaper all over the
country has for years heen watchtu
OF an interest to which the race is but
just awakening.
Moreover. our papers have given IN
centive to brain development, and
through them we have found free ex
preston for our Fred Douglases anc
T. T. Fortunes. With voice that car
be heard from coast to coast, they
bring before the land the needs of ar
often neglected portion Of its citizens
To the paper the race owes reforms
which the pulpit often cannot reach
It influences politics, watches The
school systems, guards the social cen
tiers. in fact keeps the good OF the
community ever before negligent PEG
pie, besides giving a healthy tone anc
clean understanding Of literary mat
tiers and pastime interests.
| It is the weapon Of the oppressed
and the mouthpiece OF the race at al
tines. And the voice speaking
through It is usually that Of Destiny
BY keeping things forever in the
limelight 1t acts as great moral fac
! tor Those in power are slower t
act without justice when they know
that paper stands ready to announce
the evils that they do to "a listening
and correcting world. s,,s sa,s
T But in the final analysis, the papel
is the direct medium OF the advertise
and the subscriber. To them 1t gives
Its best and closest attention. Ant
from them 1t must draw It's susie
nance.
/ And, since the paper fulfills in It,