Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-06-29


ming and it will continue here after
the end. The press may discover 1t,
and may possibly direct its course, and
might even check entirely, In spots,
and for a time; but not permanently
anywhere or universally for an in
slant. No, the press is not a maker
Of public opinion, and those who look
upon it as such, or so try to use II,
misconceive the purpose for which
1t Is intended, and invariably fall un-
der the condemnation pronounced
against him that "maketh lie."
Although involving a fourth dimen-
sion proposition as yet unanalyzed by
the human mind, it is conceded Of all
intelligent men, newspaper makers
and others, that there can be no ac-
curate estimate Of the loyalty and In
tegrity Of the press without recogniz-
ing, to its fullest importance, the con-
sideration Of ownership. According to
my own ideal, perfection is to be at
tanned in this respect, only under con-
ditions where the editorial manage
ment and conduct are directly respon-
sible to the public it would serve, on
a purely business basis Of value re-
ceived. This recognizes the right and
power Of the public to reward effi-
cient, intelligent and courageous SER
vice with liberal patronage and ap-
plause, and to punish incompetency,
bad faith and Intentional disloyalty,
with starvation. It Is high pedestal
I am erecting here; but in a case like
this, though few there be to stand up
on it, the pedestal can not be raised
too high. At the same time, let me
insist that the editor Is not to be re-
garded as a public menial. He is not
to be expected to go begging for his
pay with hat in hand. He must not
be subjected to the danger Of starva-
ton for telling the truth. He must
not be in the power Of or at the mercy
of men who have designs on the pub
lie welfare, and who find an honest ed
itor the only obstacle in their way.
The editor Is not to be licensed to do
wrong, and he is not to be considered
infallible; but he is worthy Of his hire
and he must be protected. The pub
lie owes the honest, faithful editor
fully as much, II not a great deal more
than that editor owes the public, and
the public can forget this fact only at
its inevitable peril.
But this Is only explanatory Of the
ownership question. 1t was with
that took occasion to refer especial
ly to the Independent and presumably
unfettered afternoon papers Of Ander-
son, Greenwood and Sumter. have
not said there are no others and am
not going to do 80. But am going to
tell you that there are a number Of
daily papers that occupy a very differ
ent status from these mentioned, with
reference to ownership. There are in
corporated dailies. the majority Of the
stock in which Is owned and controll-
ed by individuals who have more in
terest in keeping the public blinded
along certain lines than in keeping it
informed along those lines. There are
daily papers whose editors are con-
cerned more about the interest Of their
owners, social, industrial, economic,
financial and political, than about the
interests Of their readers. In some
cases these editors measure up to ev-
cry requirement Of journalism except
in the particulars where the selfish
interests Of their employers are con-
cerned. But nevertheless, in all cases
these papers would be Of more value
to the public If the editors thereof were
more largely responsible to the pub
lie. 1t is not necessary for me to spec
ify which papers I mean, for under
the law as 1t now stands, requiring the
publication of certain information
along about the first Of April and first
Of October, you can get some hint Of
the information for yourselves.
I want to remark here that the act
Of congress requiring newspapers to
publish statements of ownership,
etc, was an advanced step In the in
terest Of real journalism in America.
1t was fact and Is a fact that many
great newspapers that are published
ostensibly in the interest Of the pub
lie. are really owned by corporations.
political bosses and the like, who use
them for the advancement Of their own
selfish interests. The observance Of
this law serves to warn the public to
some extent; but not entirely, for al
ready means are being found to evade
merrily on. And it is not improper or
incorrect to say that the ownership
Of the Daily Press Of South Carolina
has no slight influence on the trend
of the journalism of the state. And
therefore on the thoughts and ac-
tions Of the people, social and political
as we'll as otherwise.
Just a. few more words on the duty,
opportunity and mission of the Daily
Press and / am done.
Search the records Of all time and
you will find them made up of the
story Of the eternal battle between
truth and error.
Error has always seemed to ride on
times truths leaden chariot has been
the wings of the wind, while in other
hitched to pair of snails.
Since the dawn Of creation, truth
has ever triumphed over error, and at
each triumph she has occupied high
er pedestal than before; but how slow
and tedious has been her progress!
In epoch after epoch we find ourselves
oppressed with the fear that even hope
Is q mockery.
In this connection. consider particu-
larly the centuries that have come
to be known as the middle ages.
Not only the tables of the law but
the mighty sacrifice on Calvary had
been forgotten and truth no longer
seemed to be a memory. If there had
been left in all mankind only a few