The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-06
NEWSPAPER NEVER so POWERFIN.
WITH THE PEOPLE AS IT IS NOW
Journalism at the High Water Mark of It's Career and Is
Still Going Forward and Upward-Responsibiity
Constantly Increasing.

Like in all other walks Of life and
commercial endeavor. some pretenders
anu grafters work their way through
10 success. but they are the execution
rather than the rule.
NO profession requires so much
learning and information and knowl-
eoge. 1t is SO necessary for an edi-
TOT 10 know something of many
things and everything about some
thing"
But with all the opportunities of
the newspaper there is peril and dan
ger IN the threatened invasion beyond
territory. Henry Waiter
son, the last Of the old school of
journalists, said in an address To a
press club: pretending to be the es-
pecial defenders of liberty. newspa-
pers are becoming the invaders of pri-
vate rights. No household any longer
seems safe from intrusion. Reporters
are too often turned into detectives.
AS surely as this be not checked news
papers will grow to be objects of fear
ana hatred instead of trust and re-
spect." The high calling is too often
rough into disrepute by confusing
the purpose and functions of a news
paper with the duties of a police Off
cal and a s~cavenger. Like Watterson.
! : nave been proud of that calling all
my life, and when | go to my account
| want to see a clean and honored flag
flying from the masthead.
Governor Hughes (now Justice
Hughes), once in speaking along the
same line, condemned the ready habit
of believing and spreading evil stories
about men in public office. He pleaded
with YOUNG men who go into journal
ism to be fair with public men whom
they criticise. although they comment
freely upon the acts of such men. The
man who seeks profit in promoting
and spreading calumnies is the mos,
d~espicable Of human creatures.
The unrestricted belittling of pub.
lie men, causing decrease of respect
and lettering many Of our best mer
from entering politics is growing. an5
while the wholesome, clean news
paper predOminates, yet the profes
sion suffers from the sensatiOnaliSn
of the yellow journalism, wherein
money controls and dominates instead
of truth and a uar deal. 1t is fount
!. too often hat there are "Peepin:
: Toms" to search for skeletons il
lie life. The power of good or evil o
! the press is like Hoods "Gold"-
. Good, or bad, a thousand fold:
: How widely its agencies varies,
, To save, to ruin, to cure, to bless.
! The urgent need is to print less an
z better news; newspapers that aSsai1 n
: ones character. no institutions stand
ing descredited. no man or woman
: motives inpugned until the editor ha
justified his statement. Better les
" news n real news; better news
: day late and correct than a day earle
e and incorrect.
= We belong to a profession in whic
= we learn as we do a trade. No sue
thing as a born writer. There ar
however, those who are born not
q be writer's.
r. Inspiration of Newspapers.
Ie The newspaper alone receives i
IF charter from the people. They are
It national necessity, n because of tn
it should not abuse it's privileges;
should bar the scurrillous and harn
full from its columns, and yet SAT
guard and serve the cOmmuni
which creates and supports it.
The responsibility which rests upt
p the newspaper man in relation to II
n public is so great, and is SO we'll u
m derstood by the older members of II
N craft, yet it cannot be too much in
In pressed upon the old as we'll as II
young. There is no greater menace
ID this age than the thoughtless, irr
sponsible or venal scribbler.
The editor carries in his pen
IN weapon that not only is mightier tn:
We the sword, but one far more DANCE
re Gus when it's use is abused. The writ
re is a man with a thousand tongu'
ev How careful, then. should be eve
a word in the printed page! because
nv may damn or blast. The thoughtle
Nv word in print is like the SANDER
who spreads his venom from t
he housetops. 1t is better that the writ
leave his pen to rust if he does +
write in love and charity for his f
nv low nan
be, Chief Purpose of The Newspaper
We The chief function of printing
'er newspaper is a ~wide-awake neWsI
per, giving the news promptly, fair
al thoroughly; to know no classes, p
ng, no favorites, and to handle the 10
yer news particularly SO as to convIT
me oil Of the intent Of the paper to
Lonocf ooncidoroto CinCprp while