The Idaho Republican., 1913-02-28
The.
MAKING Of a NEWSPAPER
j. F. Melvin, Shoshone Journal.
Read to the Press Club.

The comprehensive nature OF the
subject assigned me, Mr.. President,
is more than could be endured with
patience by any audience at one sit
ting were l capable of treating 1t as
fully as it should be treated, which,
fortunately for this audience, | am
not. | rather choose to tell as in an
experience meeting a few of the
things that have occurred to me from
time to time in the past touching the
matter in hand, and these things are
personal to myself.
1t was some time ago, when | was
younger than ! am now, that a very
dear little golden haired boy fixed my
avocation for me in this business, |
had been engaged in the mechanical
work connected with newspapers
since my school days off and on and
circumstances over which | exercised
very little control if tried to control
them at all led me into the proprie-
torship of paper or two as soon as
reaching mans estate. Although |
devoted some energy to them but was
not much success. | had intended to
get from under the load and embark
in some other more lucrative employ
ment, profitable if not more to my
liking. It was while planning to
this end exercised an influence to fix
my calling If he did not make my
election sure in the newspaper busi-
ness. | found the little chap had the
nose for news, as the great Dana
used to say of good reporter. We
owned other small effects in the way
of this worlds goods pet horse and
pet COW, both equally beloved by
the child as well as by the rest of us.
One day the COW, not from any vici-
BUSINESS but by accident impaled the
horse on her crooked horn and in
trying to get away made frightful
wound in the horses shoulder, almost
indeed dismembering that limb.
There was lamention in the house
hold when came home. The horse
was likely to die and the unusual
cause was a thrilling tragedy. The
poor boy was inconsolable. He had
sobbed himself nearly, to sleep, and
then, as if seeing some good to some
out of the sorrw of us all, he came
to me with, "Papa the hurt of poor
Dolly will make good copy, anyhow,
won't it,"
So stayed with the job and that
incident held me fast. How well
that little boy justified his fathers
hopes may be understood when say
that before he had reached manhood
estate he was earning as much as
two hundred per month in following
the footsteps of his father in the max
ing of newspaper.
This work my brethern, is, as I
take it, about the highest calling a
man can have He must set down
nothing in malice, and yet he is call
ed upon to report the shortcomings
and foibles of his fellows when those
shortcomings and foibles go to make
up the legitimate news of the day
around him. Somebody who is your
enemy may be concerned or some
other body in the same fix may be
your friend. You would wish to
shield or show up in either case as
your personal feelings dictated, but
you mustn't. l know that sort of
thing won't do for I have tried it.
There are lots of rules laid down for
our guidance and they are good too,
for l haven't tried them very we'll,
but l may venture to say that one of
maxims of the immortal Lincoln
should govern our actions more fully
than they are governed many times.
refer that one wherein he spoke of
his charity for all, his malice for
none and of his strength for the
right as he saw the right. Charity
will not only save us from harsh and
unjust criticism and cruel and un-
Just imputations and libel suits and
terms in jail spare us from the con-
sequences of our own errors many a
time, for in the management of
newspaper as in every other mistake
charity covers a multitude of sins.
AS a standard of conduct it will keep
out malice pretty effectually. 1t re-
mains as the last requirement of the
Lincoln rule of life that we must
have resolution and firmness of pur-
pose to guide us. And this may be
possessed without the least bluster
or ostentation or strut upon the edi-
torial hind legs.