Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-24


men volunteered when 100000 soldiers
were needed. A conference was called
of the leaders of the nation and the lead |
ers of the press. Reluctantly, Lord
Kitchener ana the cabinet granted the
demand of the newspaper men that news
should be printed, not OF military move
ments. hut OF the soldier at his work.
in battle, i'm retreat or advance, in
trench and in camp. 1t has taken 20
days to get 100000 men without news
With news the next 100000 stepped for
ward in ninc days. the next 10000 in
seven days. Republican institutions
were justified of the elder son OF self
government a free press. and publicity
proved again the defense and safeguar d
Of a free people.
The American press had another duty
not less important. BY long tradition,
by wise policy. by just principle and by
sound national decision the United
States is neutral in this war. The gov
eminent is silent save on national rights
at sea. The people have had no official
voice on the chief issue. But American
neutrality has never been Indifferent to
moral issues or without a just and i'm
partial judgment on the acts of men and
the American press had to speak for the
only powerful people at peace. Our news
papers have done their duty for our
land and the world. for our people and
all peoples. for civilization and for hui
mainly Without bitterness, with no
partisanship. defending no one cause
and condemnng either party to conflict
when either departed from the establish
Il .,,In nf
can press, as whole. day by day has
uttered the verdict of the American peo-
Pile. Nowhere else has each cause had
it's advocates and it's supporters. No
where in the world has there been doubt
that the American press has spoken for
the nation. for humanity and anticipa ted
the verdict of history and slow time.
Never before have the newspapers of
any land had this duty to discharge
and it has been met with courage, With
sagacity with justice and with restraint
and with reserve, because in it's own
chosen field be it hamlet, village, town,
city or metropolis. the newspaper man
in free communities, each part Of a free
people. has in the days affairs a daily
duty to mediate. to represent, to Judge
and accurately voice and to reprieve the
opinion and verdict of the community.
the state and party with which he is
associated. Self-government and the
consciousness of free people in its
whole and in its parts, is only possible
through the professional utterance of
the newspaper man,
The great journalist, Joseph Pulitzer,
to whom the School of Journalism in
Columbia University owes its existence,
saw that the high task and this great
work could not be adequately accom-
pished without thorough training. to
provide which he left an endowment of
G,W"U. He knew. as writer. that
training in the art of expression for the
newspaper could only be accomplished
young, and he prohibited college tests
by admitting to the four year course
of the school students direct from tho
high school, or after newspaper expe-
rience. Joseph Pulitzer foresaw that in
the twentieth century the relations of
the United States with foreign affairs
would become closer and he insisted
that those who sought the school. should
acquire working knowledge Of either
German or French He understood that
it was more necessary for the journal
ist to be schooed in tho science Of gov
eminent. the economic structure of So
ciety and the whole web OF States that
bear upon the relations of men to each
other than TO lay emphasis on the trivial
details Of the calling. He knew. as
every one Of us here knows. that the
School of journalism can no more make
Journalists than the law school or
, the medical school can mako the
lawyer or the doctor. but 1t can lay
the foundations OH which the newspa-
per can securely build. and save months
Of future work to the newspaper and Sc
cure the steady development through
practical conduct with affairs Of the
, young journalist prepared for his work
, The early probate OF MIR. Pulitzer's will
In the graduation of the classes Of the
School Of Journalism has now gone or
for three years. Half OF It's men are
at work outside of New York; on the
New York papers It has more than 81
men, Its work is as much needed In tho
, rural weekly as In the metropolitan
daily and will be as valuable.
. The demand which the school receives
for new men shows that its second grea
task il that when 1t has educated thos'
who come to It in the most importan
5 calling in society. It will serve the pur
, pose OF widening the choice Of the news
paper office, daily and weekly. and as
e surfing 1t of the character and equip
n ment of those whom it sets at our grea
e and enduring task.
NEWSPAPER TOPICS DISCUSSED.
A paper was read by W. G. Belknap Of
the Bellows Falls Times OF "Approprta
tions by the State for Newspaper Pubiicit,
Purposes" Mr. Belknap spoke of thu
) FREQ publicity demanded by the various
!" departments of the State government AM
y OF the advertising appropriations of {
- thousand dollars for a two-year term
u Contracts for this advertising were place,
= through the Hays agency. Mr.. Belknal
e had no recommendations to make as t.
Is for the State than through an agency
His paper was followed by an informa
a discussion.
u A paper on the Advertising Agency
n written by f. f. Langley, publisher of tn
p Barre Daily Times. was read by Secretar
johnson. In It Mr.. Langley discussed tn
a evolution of the advertising agent an
y. urged newspapers to have a fixed rate an
l. stick to II. Publishers now have prett
l. fair idea OF what a line per thousand O
% circula ton is worth. Just rates woul
= result in more foreign advertising and
n Vermont newspapers could get togcthe
II and adopt "a uniform rate card II would b
" to the advantage of all. The advertiser
agent is as necessary as the architect o
N attorney but the time will come, MI