The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-12
Newspaper Publishers Are
Last To Place Their
Business On A
War Basis
Unless This Is Done Disaster Is
Faced Says New York Edl-
tor-No Other Class More
Patriotic
BY JOHN w. BAKER,
ithaca IN. y Journal.

itHuCN ". L : JOuf Hut.
The newspapers have responded to the
call Of their country. Political ties have
been cast aside. The American press,
with few exceptions, is united and when
history is finally written it will be re
corded that the newspapers have had a
glorious part in the winning of the war.
It is a splendid tribute to the loyalty
and patriotism of the men of the news
paper business. To them must 90 much
of the credit for the marvellous military
and naval organizations developed IN the
past ii months And as we look back
to that eventful day, April 6, 1917, we
now get vision of utter helplessness as
a fighting power.
Today we have a fighting organization
of perhaps 3, 100000 men. Not all
trained to be sure but there are nearly
10000 American soldiers in the veter-
an class "over there ready and anxious
to meet the most cruel and devilish foe
that man was ever pitted against. But
we have confidence in our boys. We
know they will uphold the sacred tradi-
ltions of America for freedom and liberty.
To get together such a fighting force
and the necessary equipment in so shoT
time is a stupendous undertaking. Its
accomplishment has been made possible
largely by the American newspapers.
The newspaper is the mouthpiece of the
government. Through this medium of
Jthe government it speaks to 100,ooO,OOO
people-from crowded city to the re-
most hamlet. The war has been visual
lied and brought home to us through the
cooperation of the press. 1t has been
the one great topic Of all the papers.
America is awake!
There has been some criticism of men
and methods, but let it be said to the hon
or of the newspapers that this criticism
has, for the most part, been constructive
and free from political vindicitiveness.
The newspapers are on higher plane.
They have advanced morality, and hon
esty, and efficiency in the army and
navy, and in official and in civil life.
The country has responded. The power
Of the press has been indicated.
GREAT SERVICE RENDERED BY
PRESS.
In ever activity connected with the
war program the newspapers have "put
it over.' I need not take the time to
elaborate. You know the great service
that has been rendered in crystalizing
public sentiment from the very beginning
of or entrance into the conflict; in the
Liberty loan, Red Cross, Y. M. c. A.,
K. c., and every other campaign.
That service has been patriotic ser
vice, without cost or without price so
far as the government directly is con-
cerned. Publicity is vital necessity
in carrying ON the war. 1t is so conceded.
Yet the government makes no appropria
ton for it's exploitation. To measure in
dollars the value of the advertising and
publicity given the government during
the past year would be impossible. 1t
would ruin into millions. And while it
is recognized that it is unjust discrimi-
nation against an important industry
and placing upon it heavy burden, the
the newspapers have accepted the situa-
ton in patriotic spirit and have given
to the government the only commodity
they have to sell.