The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-02-22
JOURNALISM AS A LIFE-WORK.'
Mr.. Robert Latham Addresses Large
Audience at Bamberg.

Mr.. Robert Latham Addresses Large
Audience at Bamberg.
One of the most Illuminating, as
well as one of the most interesting,
lectures heard here for long period
was that delivered by. Mr.. Robert
Latham, editor Of the News and
Courier, at the Carlisle Fitting
school last Friday night, on journal
ism as a Life Work." This was the
second of the series of life work lee
lures scheduled to be delivered be-
for the student body and their friends
from the town. A representative,
cultured and appreciative audience
gathered at the school auditorium
to hear Mr.. Latham, and they were
amply repaid. Mr.. Latham showed
himself complete master of his sub
ject and gave his audience such a
treat on the history, mission and
present status of journalism as one
rarely enjoys.
Mr.. Latham began by paying per-
sonal and beautiful tribute to the
late DR.. Jas. H. Carlisle, for whom
the school is named, saying that it
was pleasure to speak in any in
stitution bearing that name. He then
traced the history and struggles of
journalism from it's infancy to the
dawn of the modern period. He re-
lated the struggles the press had in
England, and how the victory was
finally won by a popular demonstra-
ton when Parliament ordered six
editors cast into prison. In America,
Mr.. Latham gave chief credit to
Thomas Jefferson for the develop
ment of a free press. Rehearsing
his persistent, statesmanlike sacrifici-
al contention for free institutions,
the speaker declared that the nation
owed Mr.. Jefferson a debt which could
not be easily paid.
The speaker was particularly
strong and inspiring in his treatment
of the mission Of the press. While
admitting that in republican gov
ernment the greatest service could
be rendered by a paper having party
afiliation and being true to the SER
vice of it's party, the speaker declar-
ed that the ideal paper was the one
which always supported the best man
and the best measure, regardless OF
party lines. The ideal paper relates
facts as they are, contends persist
emily for justice and fair dealing, al
ways considers the wants Of the poor
and advocates the administering to
these wants. He declared that news
paper service along these lines is
steadily improving.
Mr.. Latham closed by holding up
to the young men the possibilities Of
an industrious, conscientious news
paper man. He spoke of the almost
marvellous opportunity some editors
enjoyed of speaking to hundreds of
thousands, yea, some of them to mil
lions, of people every day. He de-
clared that any young man who en-
ters upon journalism as a money
making proposition would be making
a serious mistake. In the field of
journalism, just as in all other great
professions, the great call is for men
of character and unselfish ambitions.
"When men apply to u.s." he said,
"we do not ask so much whether he
can write good English; we ask: Can
he see thing as it really is; is he
straight; is he sober; is he indus
trious? If he fills satisfactorily these
requirements, then the rest is COM
paratively easy"
Those who heard Mr.. Latham will
long remember his mastery address.
The next lecture will be next Fri
day evening, on medicine as a Life
Work." by DR.. Charles W. Kollock,
of Charleston.-Bamberg correspond
ence News and Courier.