Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-10-21
ETHICS"

"A@"N
It is a hackneyed question, we know-this matter relating to
the length to which an editor may &" IN lending the weight Of his
name to promoting various projects. political or otherwise.
But, as a matter of act, there should be no question whatever
with regard to the duties of an editor in his relation to the subscrib-
RS of the journal which he edits.
To begin with, he owes the subscribers the utmost frankness, for
the papers value to the readers depends largely upon its reputation
for truthfulness.
to have been offered by the editor of a magazine known as Church
and School, whose endorsement of the candidacy of a certain gen
tleman for gubernatorial honors was recently published,
The ministerial association, Of which the editor is supposedly al
member, having repudiated the editorial endorsement, the editor
averred. that inasmueh as it was given over his signature it was A
personal endorsemcnt-besides it was paid for at regular advertising
rates!
An editor who accepts pay-fnancial pay-for editorial ex-
presions is treading upon questionable ground. No editor, as w"
view it, having in mind his duty to the public and the people whom
his journal serves, can consistently accept pay for editorial opin-
ions.
1t is because newspapers and magazines have neglected to draw
the line between paid and unpaid matter that the system Of com
peling the marking of all READERS" run for pay as advertising -
has been adopted by the postal department.
The advertising columns constitute the publishers stock in
trade. The politician desiring to present his cause through the news
papers should emulate the example of the merchant and other ad-
vertsers. But, Of course, the editorial endorsement is esteemed
more valuable, and hence poiticians-some polhicians-are willing
to pay for it.
And right here enters another point involving controversy,
namely. whether a newspaper should sell its space to promote d
cause which it opposes, or which it considers inimical to public
interests. But we are leaving this phase for future discussion.
We are manifestly Stretching a point if we say that editorial
opinions are not at all governed by financial considerations. The
business end Of every successful-fnancaly uccessful-newspaper
has an ear attuned to catch the drift of business sentiment among
- FN''SAPo. Ipuohs' ~ 1ohpehu pthohN'St "ouu pC al dbbChl
to- clothe editors and publishers with super-human qualities of
mind and Of heart. The editorial end usually hears from the bust
ness end OF a newspaper Of the latters expressions have a tendency
to drive away advertising.
Nevertheless, returning to the question which the opening para
graph herein introduces, we repeat that no selfrespecting editor
should permit himself to accept money, or its equivalent. for support
ing either a politician or a cause. 1t cheapens both himself and his
publication His editorial views are no longer the product of a
sincere mind. but rather the spewings of sordid ambition.
And yet, IN this age of strenuous endeavor, an era wherein
money is defed and exalted above even property or brains, we again
admit that financial considerations do exert some influence over
editorial expressions and do have a tendency to affect the general
policy Of a newspaper.
This is the element which marks editors and publishers as
htaaan, IN common with their fenowmen.
The Webster World. commenting on Mayor Thompsonis order
Tor closing the Chicago saloons on Sunday, says that the officers
have found a way OF evading the decree. They say it ism unlaw-
full TO drink on Sunday what you may buy on Saturday; therefore,
the drinkers stop around Saturday night, pay for their. Sunday
booze, and put a check in their pockets from the hotels and restau-
rants Perhaps these eyaders have heard about the old saying
that there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Some Of the newspapers are severely criticising President Viii