Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-03-31
New News Of Yesterday
The Test OF a Successful
Newspaper
BY Holland.

The late Col. William W. Clapp, Of
Boston, was for many years the pro
prietor Of newspaper wrich was
widely recognized in New England as
the authoritative organ of one of the
two great national parties of tina,
day. In some parts of New England,
particularly Maine Lower New Hamp-
shire and Western Massachusetts. Col.
Clapp's paper was regarded by its
readers very much as was the weekly
Tribune, when Horace Greeley was
the editor.
Col Clapp had those peculiar
qualifications Tor successful news
paper management which are some
umes tersely described by the words
n born editor His philosophy of
, successful newspaper management
{ was based upon a principle that the
editor of the paper should keen in
constant touch with his subscribers
and should not so much lead public
/ opinion as TO discover what the pub-
I lie opinion really was and then by
editorial treatment appear really TO
/ be leading this opinion II was d
principle which earlier had been dis
covered by Delane, the great editor of
the London Times. Delane made q
point to discover what public opinion
really was and then TO voice that opin-
ion in the Times, thereby appearing 10
! lead it or stimulate it. whereas he
~ in CO.. e.
Another element in Col Clapp's
/ philosophy of successful newspaper
management WAS the printing Of as
rluch per sonal Information as possi-
bic. being careful not To- so SO Jar as
{, make this pers nal information
mere trivial gossip. From one end Of
Cape Cod to the Other, in the years
Immediately following the civil war,
Col. Clapp and his newspaper were
highly esteemed.
Some years after this newspaper
passed under the exclusive control Of
Col. Clapp. the railroad from a point
on Buzzard's Bay 10 prOyinc town, at
the remote end OF the Cap2, was com
pleted. A few days after the trains
began TO run regularly and daily be
!
Clapp met with an experience which
he was fond afterwacl OF relating, be-
cause he said Il illustrated the rea;
principe upon which successful
newspaper is conducted A newsboy
was employed to peddle the Boston
papers through the treiu and one day,
perhaps a month after the railroad
was opened, the boy was summoned
by passenger as the trair was near.
ing PTovincetown. The passengers ask
ed the boy what papers he had and
, the boy named them. The passenger
asked if he had a paper which sup.
! ported one of the national parties
which he called by name.
The boy replied that he had and hi
E mentioned the newspaper of which
{ Col. Clapp was the editor. at the sam
z time partially withdrawing from hi
S bundle copy of that paper.
oh. | have read that paper from
, beginning TO end" said the traveller
but l thought you might have an
other which supports my party
mo, there isn't any other which
, belongs to your party was the boys
reply
, The traveller seemed disappointed
and fell into meditation At last, al
, they were nearing Proyincetown. III
called the newsboy and said to him
= well, let me have copy of tha
p paper / read the paper through sooI
! after we left Boston and then I gave
my copy away. / will buy another
81 copy OF you now so that | can reaI
E it all through again when I get home.
Now Col. Clapp used to say, "i
] you can make a newspaper which f;
} subscriber wants 10 read all through
? a second time. you may be sure tina
you have made a successful news
paper"
Copyright. 1915. by L. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell o
"A Senator Who Was Always Ready
. Tor Trouhic A"