New-York tribune., 1919-01-19
Newspapers and the War

GkT is pity that someone with plenty
of time and penchant for old news
paper files does not write history Of the
editorial difficulties which the late war
thrust upon some of our leading journals.
To daily feel the local pulse and read the
destiny of nations too, gave many editors
the fjrst serious exercise of judgment they
have had since Wall Street press agencies
began to furnish them with their economic
policies.
"Fashions in war news were dictated by
the newspapers constituency sometimes
the advertising constituency, sometimes the
readers, though often the latter do not
count much as they once dad. The threat
Of stopping the paper only brings amuse-
ment to the modern daily, While the stop
page of an advertisement viii bring an
anxious interview with one Of the papers
officials.
There are any number of American news
papers that heartily wish that the period
of 1914-19l7 was literally the deluge il IS
often called, for then the files OF their paper
would have been destroyed, which now re-
main to mock them If printers ink only
faded as quickly as selfish attitudes can
change, lot of discriminating evidence
would be missing to-day.
The story that has not yet been told and
probably could not be told except by
general collaboration Of the editorial stall
of the entire country, concerns the numbar
of newspapers that were saved by he 10y
atty of the men who worked on them and
whose interest in their papers good narne
was equal to their regard for their personal
honor There is many an editor thsnkng
his stars to-day-they seldom thank their
men-for having been saved by the intelii
gent stubbornness Of his staff
A book ought to be complied whch viii 4
show the press Of the United States in its
typical moods from the outbreak of .ae war
in Europe until the American entry and
after This book ought TO be listed for
study in high schools and univers ties IN
order that the next generation may enter
mature life free from the general supersfi-
ton Of journalistic wisdom which gives
anonymous editorializing lis uncanny weight.
1t is safe 20 say that one effect OF such 4
book would be to destroy forever the
prestige Of certain journalistic trade names
which have held sway over large sections
Of cur country for long periods Of time.
only two classes Of newspapers came ost
clean from the test Of the last five years,
though a third class may be added. The
consistent pacifst paper, the paper that was
for peace because IL knew how stupid war
was the paper which would have been viii
ing to see the United States spared from
war in order that she might more freely
serve the peace needs Of the wor,d-trat
type of paper has clean record he fact
that It later changed to the support OF tho
war when war was morally necessary IS $40.
a sign OF Inconsistency but OF sincerity.
The entire United States was pacifst uatI
the very morality which made IL pacifst
drove it forth TO war. TIE nacifst netes-
paper at least had philosophical eUdcposis
to which it was loyal, ard II has the salts
faction now Of seeing its principles exalted
INTO respectable and increasingly influential
world policies.
The other type OF paper which ca-na
through clean is the modest publication
which knew it was rot world authority
and did not pretend 10 be able to ia erpree
world destiny, but conientea itself with
printing the news and being on guard for
the United States Its record. If rot bril-
liant, is irreproachable
place is left for possible third class
OF newspapers those that seemed 20 see
the nature of the war from the beginning.
that seemed to perceive the Issue 10 whsch
it would resolve itself, and recognized Gcr~
many Tor what she was from the outset.
OF course, these papers We're for war.
immediate war, war without preparation.
Unfortunately, zoe. most of them were
located in the financial East and had con-
nection with interests whose counsel is
always to be doubted. But 20 members Of
this class of newspapers who spoke from
their wise perception Of ceens ws MASH
| vote clear and unimpeachahIe record"