Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-22
MONDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1920.
Concentration of Newspaper Control.

II was q great surprise TO the news
paper world. Saturday morning, to learn,
from authoritative announcement, that
the Baltimore American and ITS alter-
noon issue. the American Star, had been
,old 10 Frank 4. Munsey Mr. Munsey
IA. for ouitc awhile been somewhat no.
torious as an owner of newspapers, ana
ha. for several wears owned the Baltimore
Evening News. with which paper the
afternoon edition Of his latest purchase
will he consolidated on January |. The
actual transfer takes effect December l.
The latest extension Of newspaper own
crship by this apparent seeker after press
control is somewhat startling, and indl-
Gates an ambition and success-in
a-ouisition AZ lcast-that already rivals
,he record OF William Randolph Hearst.
Mr.. Mun.ey started with the Washington
Times. next he secured the Baltimore
fvenlng News Aspiring 70 metropolitan
fame. he first bought the New York Sun,
then the moribund New York Press, by
which he secured an Associated Press
franchise something the Sun had long
v.inlv aSrired TO- and which It secured
through absorption Of the Press. Next ne
,stonishcd the entire newspaper world by
huying tho New York Herald ami IFS
associated issues. including the Paris
<cw York Herald At first the Herald
ioinci with the sun. but after briei
,.,,,.-;r,en. ~ The awkward and disturb
mo title az The sun and New York Herald
he rcinstated the New York Herald,
merging the morning Sun with that
papers evening edition, under the old
r,anoe az The Sun. Now he takes IN the
list an old established morning paper IN
Baltimore. Upon what community his
envelopinr grasp will next fall IS a matter
~ interesting conjecture.
II i. doubtful il the newspaper reading
fraternity. in general. will relish this sum
mary extension of one-man control and
direction 20 So many newspaper properties,
II has been a notable feature OF newspaper
publishing in this country Of recent
wears. and presents the surprising and
somewhat paradoxical situation OF news
napers Of differing policies and opposite
shades Of political opinion published under
ne ownership. All OF Hearst's newspapers
unite in carrying out the peculiar Hearst
noErics and Munsey's papers are all
Rcpubhcan. hut in AZ least one other IN
stance Of several papers under one control
the odd spectacle is presented OF one Ke-
mblican in politics and at least one other
Democratic How he personality OF the
proprietor and his convictions as 10 public
md political policies may be adequately
scrved by such a combination is g mys-
tcry. Az least il can be said, however,
that in matters political the multi-pro-
rrietor who pursues such policy has
politically speaking, "set his trap to cotch
the coon a comm or s'goin.
Monopoly ownership in newspaper
properties is an outgrowth OF recent wears.
m this country. More than half CEN
tury ago the late Colonel John ". Forney
was conspicuous for his proud ownership
- INV two papers, both daily"-the
Philadelphia Press and the Washington
Chronicle-but he was rare exception
IN ms dav. Now this combination OF
ownership is becoming general, but wheth-
crit il for the good OF journalism or other
-ise only time will reveal
While the Baltimore American Will
continue in existence, 1t seems regretui
that this fine old publication should lose
fts individuality in ownership and become
merely one Of chain of newspaper prop
critics under one proprietor. 1t was es-
tabIshed in 1878, and therefore is at the
Top Of the list Of the few ancient continu-
Gus newspaper publications Of the coun-
Try. IL first gave TO the public The
Star-spangled Banner" putting the I'M
mortal nstional ode IN type from the manu-
script Of its author, Francis Scott Key.
For seventy years il has been under the
continuous management Of one family,
that Of the late Charles Carroll Fulton
and his son-in-law, the veteran General
Felix Agnus, who now retires, at the age
~ eighty one years, from q management OF
the paper that continued for forty years.
Il Is pleasing to be informed, however, by
his valedictory in Saturdays American,
that he Is still in vigorous health, and with
undiminished interest in the profession he
has 50 long honored. TO use his own part
ing words 4We have had fine life and
there are many days ahead"