Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-05
Passing Of Days Of Journalism,

Tho late Geo. d. Perkins moro nearly
than any other midland editor carried
over into the Twentieth century the best
traditions and highest ideals Of the
school Of journalism which attained IT,
nineteenth century. He was distinct
ly OF the old school. He was Journal
list. not merely q newspaper man.
Mr.. Perkins had that earnest devo-
ton to his vocation which bound him
up in his newspaper and made 1t .
very part Of his own strong personality.
He labored In the field of journalism
for Its own sake. He loved the work.
He did not let 1t get out of his mind
for long. When he went to congress
1t was great strain on him to be
taken SO completely out Of touch with
his daily newspaper. As he sat at
his desk in congress he used to go over
the latest copy OF his paper with blue
pencil and mark every little error or
defect and send the paper hack to those
whom he had left in charge. When he
was most active in personal manage
ment of his property at homo he gave
attention to every detail. He scanned
the briefest news items to see II they
were we'll worded. He would ind q
broken letter in the ads and order II
thrown away He could see quicker
than anybody else II there was q mark
on the page left by the tapes Of the
old press.
1t has been my good fortune to have
been in the employment of and labored
close to some pretty good newspaper
editors-Mr Perkins, RET" Clarkson,
Lowry w. Goode, E. Rosewater and
some others. Without drawing invid-
ious comparisons I can say truthfully
that In my opinion Mr.. Perkins was
the most thorough journalist I ever
knew. Perkins was a newspaper pub
Usher and editor prior to 1860, more
than 81 years ago. His training was
that which had made. in the nation,
men like Bennett, Greedy, Raymond,
White, Curtis, Watterson, Medill.
Bowles. Dana. In his early prime he
was contemporaneous with men, in
Iowa, like RET" Clarkson. Sam Clark,
Matt Parrot, John Mahin. Fred Myers,
John r. Sage. Al Swain, NJ. NJ. Ham,
D. N. Richardson. John Keatley, Joseph
Eiboeck, Judge Thayer and others. He
was not as brilliant as some. nor as
pugnacious as others, nor did he get
into all the controversies; but made
u HIS OAAy paper u PASSSy oSSuA w
mirror Of the happenings Of the world
as it went along.
That which shall remember best
Of Mr.. Perkins was his determination
that his newspaper should maintain
the old standards regardless Of his own
personal fortunes in politics. This can
be best illustrated by an incident. After
he had been nominated for congress the
first time his old friend and neighbor,
Judge Allison. had been nominated by
the opposition against him. Judge Alh-
sons admirers had arranged a big re-
ception for him when he returned from
the convention. There were to be
speeches and music and marching. 1t
was a sort of new experience in the
Jcxrnal office to have this personal
element enter into politics. l asked
Mr.. Perkins how we should treat the
Allison reception from . news stand
point.
Treat 1t just the came as II was
not a candidate at ALL he said. Tell
the news He is distinguished towns
man and deserves well OF our paper.
Give the news as to his movements In
the campaign and mine impartially."
That policy was followed. Soon
thereafter Mr.. Perkins found that II
he was to get into politics in earnest
he would have to practice up on public
speaking. In the state senate he had
done no talking Of consequence. He