The daily sentinel., 1912-07-30
WRITER'S HEAR
PRES. VINCENT
Associated Press.

EANobCldNtu IitSSs
Madison, Wis, July 3O.-George
E. Vincent, president of the Univer-
sity OF Minnesota, in an address up
on The Press and the People" at the
opening session OF the first national
newspaper conference at the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin last night. predict
ed that, despite discussion of en-
dowed, municipal and public news
papers, the press would remain a
priyately-Owned function for another
generation or two at least.
President Vincent began his ad-
dress by tracing the history of the
American press from colonial items.
and showing how, in his opinion, 1t
had been evolved from and had re-
Elected the character of the various
prOgTessiOns of American life. -Ie
said it had rendered essential service
to every activity of the national life
and supplied the materials for the
growth and readmstment of the pub
lie mind as well as being of immense
importance to the physical welfare OF
the nation.
Taking up the question of the in
fluenCe of Interests" upon the press,
President Vincent said:
1T is well frankly to recognize the
fact that the nation is made up not
principally of individuals but of per
sons who are grouped about common
interests. The national life is the
competition, the rivalry, the coop
Grafton of such groups To recognize
| these groups and interests is essen
tial to a wholesome public opinion.
These interests have every right to
seek their own welfare and to call
public attention to their rights and
purposes. But the public insists that
this be done openly.
1T is doubtless true that the press
too often yields to economic and So
cial pressure. but in this it is not
unique. 1t shares the responsibility
with politics, with business at times,
with education and even with relig-
ion. Newspapermen have as keen
sense of social responsibility as the
members Of other professions | be
lieve the rank and file of the press
writer's are in hearty sympathy with
the changes which promise larger
justice and fairer conditions of life.
Any pressure eXerted on the press Is
trasmitted to these men from the
managers who employ them"
Mr.. Vincent declared that the
shortcomings of the press are the
products of other national life for
which all of us must assume our por-
tion of the responsibility" and adc-
ed:
1T is satisfying to lay the blame
at a definite door and to demand in
stant reformation. But social prog
ress is not made to order Men can
not be expected suddenly to free
themselves from the neXus of depend
ence which we call the web of life.
No; the failures and shortcomings of
the press are part and parcel of our
common life.
IF fifty or a hundred thousand of
us would pay $25 year for our
daily papers, if We would not stoD
our subscription whenever the re-
ports or editorials displeased us. if
the journal could be unhampered by
our prejudiCes and interests, we
could find able and competent men to
give us model publication. But
plan which calls for so radical a
change in so many human beings is,
fear, academic"
Mr. Vincent referred to the en-
dowed, the municipal and the public
journals, and predicted that, what
ever the final outcome, it is safe TO
predict that, for another generation
or two, the press will remain pri-
vately-owned function. Improvement
viii come through many forces. all
working towards the ideal playing
the game of our daily life on a higher
plane of good spOrtsmanship."