The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-28
.2EPARATORY SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND ACADEMIES

veritable plague OF Egypt to recount
our virtues, to tell wherein We are
better than before, to our gains
year by year? They are there beyond
doubt. With the majority Of us our
columns are cleaner than they were. I
Whether II be because Of exemplary
punishment for Illicit advertising or
whether the reform spirit within our
cities has made itself felt, notably those
new ideas dealing with the social evil
and certain kinds Of medical adver-
| Using. there has been n notable change
for the better. The magazines and
criticisms.
I'VE indeed have "A sailing chart II IL
the Golden Rule. reinforced by every
bit Of ethical teaching. every new de-
velopment OF social responsibility to
our fellow men. But have W. written
down for ourselves n code OF news
paper ethics based upon a recognition
of the fact that We can no more per-
form our functions without admitting
that we have a silent partner In the
public than can any public service cor
poration the country over? Newspaper
proprietors can less and less say to
themselves. the public be damned. Let
no temporary yellow journal success, IL
success IL be, blind us to the fact that
for those who do so the day IL pass
ing, as It has passed forever with the
ousting of the INSCRIPTIONS railroad
wrecker who went on the theory that
a railroad was not the etockholders'
nor the public's but the officers alone
to do with AZ they pleased.
IL could prove TO you. l believe. that
the newspaper that sells its honor. It's
opinion and It's news columns cannot
in the long run pay. Look hap
pened TO the - and the -,
which were caught printing bogus news
OF the insurance inquiry. See what
happened to the - and the -
when the public became convinced that
political considerations controlled their
editorial pages. Sooner or later the
, character Of a newspaper Is established
In the public eye. Sooner II 10 going
to be In the future how else can 1t be
with our quickenei public conscience In
every other field Of public. social. econo-
mic activity
rhe time has then ON for us TO
codify the public opinion. For us the
handwriting Is on the wall. II we do
not profit by II. II we do not set our
house in order ourselves. our glorious
freedom from n hateful supervision and
control will crumble away and with 1t
many of the present day splendors,
powers and opportunities OF our craft.
At best We shall be compelled to find
in n more and more sordid rush for
! wealth n miserable substitute for I'm.
qualified public approval and regard
for the right TO count ourselves as the
foremost force for culture. for morality
T for civilization. the greatest bulwart
e of liberty. the source of an inspired
V and enlightened patriotism. the chic
{ medium through which our laws and
. our institutions shall be modified OF
a strengthened for Il fairer. a purer. q
r nobler democracy in the generations
o to come.
e A OF which. my friends. would III
y the more regrettable II one but con
sidered the nobility of the profession
itself. I yield to no other. unless II bs
the medical, III palm for nobility o
n opportunity. for Its ability to forwart
humanity and all its works, But 10 m
the power OF the journalist seems who'll,
: o~utweighed by the call for service. ]
Is n semi-public position. | repeat. whicl
e the editor holds. and therefore his IL
d s%emi-public responsibility to serve tn
public we'll and faithfully. But evei
his responsibility shr!nks in my min'
v before the opportunity to do good. to al
tack evil. to spring 10 the rescue OF tn
weak. the poor, the oppressed and III
unfortunate, to assail those intrenche'
in privileges or w~rongdoing. to tear iron
faithless servants of the people thei
'e garments OF hypocrisy or unrighteous
ness.
l. at Is the honest editor. however SINAI
z the circle Of his readers. who reaps IN
greatest rewards Intellectually an
y spiritually. what financial or clrcula
tion success could compare with III
~ privilege Of upholding the righteous, III
; real lure OF the profession TO him VIII
80 enters il without thought OF self, bu
= obsessed with the precious privilege {
-, pleading for others. Charles Sumn'
is once said OF the anti-slaNery struggle
80 our cause IL noblcr than that OF on
-, Revolutionary fathers. inasmuch as
>. is more exalted to struggle for the free
"a dom Of others than for our own tn
On editor who Is true TO hin self and to h
profession and to his clients, who are a
mankind and not merely the few wi
" buy his wares, is sure to profit by tn.
TO nobility OF purpose which invariably e'
w a.teth.
er Let me record solemnly my limos
?. most earnest belief that only as the PR
fession to which we belong lives up
tie this ideal shall its influence with u
public wax. shall it regain It's lost pre-
he tige, shall Il in fun degree exercise /
ry functions OF serving the people, OF co.
sc trolling their servants, the politicians,
.er keeping our moral and our national Ii
at pure by bringing forward the new, mo-
e~rnizlng the old. by giving vent TO evel
appeal Tor alr, 10 all Idult nNulhg,
~, every injustice. as a social safety valv
cir as the guardian OF our liberties"
4 very lively discussion followed IN
address. Mr.. Willard was utterly frau
in his handling II the criticisms Of Il
~ press due to the war. He denounced {
IN British censorship as incredibly stupi
ilt admitted that there had heen much M
III information, but he said, 'It must
DIV remembered that rumor stalks abroad
es wartime, and especially IN the early da
Il was almost impossible to separate "a
from fiction"
IA He also deplored the possibility OF o
. nations being subjected TO the militia
istlc spirit which Is already, lie mai
tanned, in evidence. He cited, for @
. ample, the bitter assailing of Congress
man Kitchin in the attempt to mako HI
recede from his honest, manly and nof
position. For this position he has he
viliied and deliberately misquated.
Mr.. Willard in the discussion also pa
an editor of the EUenin0 Post, whom
characterized as zone OF the best Anne
cans who came ont of IA ghetto
Russia, worked his way through y
public schools and through Columt
and won his place on the stan throu,
voluntary contributions. Il believe the
is no more thoroughgoing American
said Mr.. Willard. 1t is inspiring TO
with him."
At the meeting of the executive cul
mittee, preceding the dinner, the folio
,pu rnmmittpa on conference with 4,