Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-20
Ffty-one Years Ago Today In1presSiC
Ceremonies CrOWned Efforts q
George w. ChiLds to Give Publ
Ledqer Finest Plant

| told how three printers had started the
/ paper with slender means. but with a
| determination to succeed.
a striking Example
"And it is a striking example of what
patient application intelligently directed
can DO he continued, that an appar-
| entity hopeless undertaking, begun with
| limited means. under serious dis
advantages. has. within the memory of
| many who hear me. largely enriched its
projectors. and that the little obscure
office in the old Arcade has been re-
placed by the palatial establishment
so vast In its design, so substantial in
! its structure. so ornate in its embellish-
. ments and so perfect in its appointments
We have Sc recently visited and eN-
amincd
For this last we are indebted to
the muniticience of Mr.. Childs, and while
we are under special obligations for the
beautiful editCe thus added to our city.
his brethren of the press everywhere
owe him gratitude and praise for the
| costly monument he has reared to the
dignity. Importance and value OF our
profession"
The chairman then introduced Joseph
! r. Chandler, my venerable friend, who
so long and so ably upheld the fame
of our craft"
when | commenced connection with
| the newspapers nearly fifty years ago"
said Mr.. Chandler. the simple hand
press. that gave two hundred and fifty
| impressions an hour. sutficed for all de-
/ mandS upon the office but an increase
| of general interest and of business rem
dered necessary some additional means,
| and one new press after another was in
vented and used. till finally-and | sup
pose it is finally-came the Hoe press
to take its place in newspaper Office
| nay, to take the place of all others, and
do with a single machine. in an hour
as much as Il brigade of the others
could accomplish in day
Public Ledg-r's "Earnestness"
Before the Public Ledger appeared
| there was a calm in the newspaper
world that seemed to denote some COM
| ing agitation. Up to that time ! had
| seen nothing that excited anxiety in me
| relative to my own interests | could
at least keep pace with the others and
saw my subscription list slowly but
steadily improving. But when the Pub
| lie Ledger sprung into existence there
was in its management and In its general
appearance an earnestness that seldom
fails of success. when backed by perSe-
verance: and among other schemes Of
a similar kind in this city seemed to
feel and confess and submit to the St-
premacy Of the undertaking of Mr..
| Swain and his l-Sxociates. ! felt little
anxiety, / confe:I. because | saw what
the sun was doing !- Esw York for
itself. and always dis.:u%Sig of myself:
this newspaper upon tse. United States
Gazette. Like others. / coad PHILOSOPHERS
upon the advantages of rivalry and COM
petition. But how was this competition
to affect me?'''
In closing his remarks Mr. Chandler
gave his idea of the Ledger's secret of
success.
! a Newspapers Creed
What has made it an institution
valuable to our city with the 'potentiality
of wealth to it's proprietor he asked
For this effect comes by cause. The
answer Is easily made. 1t Is due in the
first place to a proper estimate of public
wants--to the adoption of q plan and a
steady pers everancs in the execution OF
that plan: the avowal of principles
and the avoidance OF party entang1e-
ments fhe deterininatlon 10 make the
paper and not it's editor. prominent; TO
have no personal obligations to repay,