The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-28
HOW SENATOR LA TOILETTE
KILLED HIS OWN BOOM

the only hope of the American people |
was i'm the magazines, and even they
are i'm danger Senator La Toilette
talked until twenty minutes after one
Saturday morning, and / doubt if 90
all the time he talked he convinced a
single nearer that the American press
is so debauched as he represented IT,
1--WE may admit that there is such
thing as commercial journalism
There are newspapers that are purely
or mainly commercial; they may be
successful. But must he not be very
shortsighted publisher who lets the
petty nearby gain obscure his vision
of the UNNECESSARILY greater reward
1t is the higher and wiser commercial.
ism, the seeking after the greater re-
ward. that crowns success in the Of
fort to make a great newspaper.
What makes a newspaper great
and in the highest SENSE successful!
The foundation is plainly the con
fdence of its readers, the respect Of
the community to which it appeals. 1t
comes of many renunciations, Of with
standing the aHurements Of immediate
advantage, of principles clearly form
ulated and unswervlngly adhered u.
of ideals religiously cherished and
never abandoned. When a newspaper
conforms to such principles when II
/ is guided by such ideals when convic
! ton goes every day into its making
and when to all these, Illuminating
and vitalizing all these, brains are
added, the newspaper that is the fruit
of this blending will inevitably enjoy
| the confidence, the respect, and the
patronage of the community Il
serves"
The Integrity Of the Press.
1t is no uncommon thing for the
newspapers to be savagely attacked
by persons whJ have been brought tc
book by them. 1t is not unusual fol-
politicians to pour out the walls OF
their wrath upon the heads of those
editors who oppose their election tC
Office or who reveal their crookednes.
to the public they pretend to serve
To accuse the press Of dishonesty, o
deliberate misrepresentation of injus
tice and of malignant persecution il
the practice of some seekers for NO
toriety who hope in this way to at
tract attention to themselves for TIL
purpose of furthering selfish interests
1t must be said, however, that tn
/, integrity of the newspapers as elias
is not often questioned by men of con
handing importance in any part {
/ the country. La Follette's arraigT
ment of them in his Philadelphia
, speech was so rabid, unjust and III
deserved that the two hundred perio,
| ical publishers and guests at the dill
ner We're convinced that the senate
E had suddenly gone crazy.
, There may have been a time in tn
history of American journalism whe
certain newspapers were but puppet
in the hands of political freebooter
commercial highwaymen and the en,
mics of law and order, but those WIN
have made a recent study of the puI
lie press know that the day has lon
since passed.
We do not believe that there is
single newspaper of influence in an
city in the United States whose CO
, umns can be purchased for dishol
Z orable purpose because not one coul
retain its position and resort to sue
= practices. The public mind is kee
t It is ever on the alert to discover al
: denounce a betrayal of confidence.
? il once 'oses confidence in new
} paper. no matter how old it may
, or how highly it has been regarde
S its downfall is certain. To be su
f cessful, a newspaper must have u
S confidence and good will of its co
5 stituency To deserve that con
r dence is the aim of every publisher
Newspapers, therefore, must be u
o right in their dealings with the publ
ii if they would lead in influence or
r business. Not one can retain its pc
10 ton in public opinion if it plays t
Id role of a Judas.