The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-08-04
THE EDITORIAL PAGE.


The Fort Dodge Chronicle pops the
question and has succeeded in stirring
up considerable readable comment on
the subject.
1t is not an entirely new issue, how
ever. Arthur Brisbane raised it some
months ago from a slightly different
angle when he enumerated the differ
the order of their Importance and put
the editorial page after the comic sup
pleMent.
Whether the editorial page is worth
while depends entirely upon the edi.
torial page.
Time was, of course, when the edi-
torial page welded more influence
than it does now. Before and dur.
ing and, after the civil war, for in.
stance, thousands upon thousands OF
readers of the New York Tribune put
their trust in the writings Of Horace
Greeley as they did in the words OF
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. That
no editorial page of the present day
has the same clientele is due in larger
measure to the changes in the times
and in the people, however, than to
changes in the editorial pages and
editors. Pulpit orators, platform stars
and political leaders in those days had
large personal followings of which
pulpit orators, platform stars and po-
ltical leaders cannot boast in the
present day. There is more indie
pendent thinking nowadays, and less
hero worshipping and less PARTISAN
ship.
10 be sure, the editorial page is
worth while. It. is worth while, that
is, If it is fair. Time was when the
editor who could most effectively
dress down an opponent was consid-
cred the most effective writer. But
the day for calling names in place OF
offering argument is. past. The edi-
torial page is worth while If 1t is ac-
curate. Carelessness is the bane OF
all newspapering, but in no part OF
the making of a newspaper is it less
excusable than in the writing OF edi'
torials, which are supposed to be the
product Of research and deliberation.
The editorial page is worth while II
it is timely-if it keeps fairly well
up with the news. 1t is the editorial
page that talks about things about
which the world is talking that may
fairly look for at least a passing
glance from the man who prefers the
sporting sheet. The editorial page
is worth while If it is human. 1t must
take itself seriously, just as 1t must
take the world-but not too seriously.
History does not state, but the as
sumption is that even Atlas smiled
once in a while as he tOted the world
around on his shoulders. 1t is well,
in other words, for the editorial page
now and then to get away from the
war, the constitution, the tariff and
the destiny of nations and by way OF
a seventh-inning stretch, as 1t were,
to inquire as to the whereabouts OF
the old fashioned this or that or to
congratulate the Red SOX on their
wonderful victory over the Athletics
or to indulge in a few airy nothlngs
anent the shade of Hon. j. Hamilton
Lewis whiskers. The editorial page
is worth while If it is sane. There
is no need of basing every editorial
expression on the premise that the
world is all askew or OF assuming that
in order to have the SO called punch
an editorial page every day must ov-
erthrow some time honored institu-
ton or other before breakfast.
In brief, the editorial page that Is
worth while must possess much the
same qualities that make man worth
while--characte integrity, good ma
ture, fairness, up-to-datepess, mental
ity, humanity and judgment.-Sioux
City Journal.