Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-22
EDITORIAL IS SOUL
NEWSPAPER, SAYS
STOUT TO EDITORS
Characterizes Conductor of Page as Somewhat
of Preacher and More of Teacher; Denies
Policy Controlled.

any doubts on the subject. My own
! experience throughout Is years of edi-
torial work. could. at a pinch, be used
as n basis for an exposition of con-
vincing proof that the editorial page
has an Importance worthy of prideful
elaboration. But the very useful, if
not always sober. second thought serv-
ed to lessen considerably my initial
enthusiasm. | did make a rather thor
ough mental recapitulation OF my near
ly two decades of editorial activity.
The result was less gratifying than l
at first thought it would be. 1t was
discovered that. judging from the ex-
pressions of popular approval and dis
approval of the men and policies which
had been so ardently championed dur
ing these years. my editorial batting
average was nothing for IN extreme
of e%lation. THE check mark of defeat
appeared through the record with
startling frequency. Many Of the is
sues which have been right fervently
invested with the dignity of crises had
been lost in the limbo of things for
gotten. Men who had been i~ngenuOusly
CARRIED in the shining livery of states
manship were recalled to mind with
considerable effort. Wrongs against
which the editorial lance had been
splintered in ferociOus assault were
yet in a fair state of health. This
excursion into the clustered regions
of an editorial past being finished. |
decided that, in this instance, at least,
the lamp of personal experience did
not shed forth sufficient light.
Curb Many Wrongs
"a general survey of the activities of
our craft does afford. here and there,
many instances of outstanding triumph.
In truth, they are so numerous, the
cases wherein fearless newspapers
have attacked and overcome evil de-
signs, conditions and individuals, that
to catalogue them here would be i'm
possible even if the men and women
here assembled were not already fully
acquainted with such achievements. i
believe it may be stated without fear
of successful contradiction that no
great movement toward a healthier
state of public affairs has ever lacked
adequate, vigorous and effective news
paper editorial support; and it might
be added that every such movement
for san reform or desired improve
ment has owed its success to exactly
that support.
The day of the personal organ when
some ambitious man or group of men
owned and edited a paper for the adj
vancement of individual fortunes or
selfish group designs is drawing to a
close here in America. Likewise. the
day when unknown owners could di-
rect. through dummies. the policy of a
newspaper for their own evil
is gone, never again to return. and the
passing of that day marked a ire
mendous advance in the life Of re
sponsible journalism in America.
Paper Is Public Servant
NO thoughtful newspaper owner or
of the present day regards his
paper in any other light than as a
public service institution with certain
definite obligations, as sacred as any
by formal oath, to work always
for the public good. Adherence 10 this
lofty conception cannot fail to give to
any editorial page the respect of al!
fair minded people even though many
of them may hold to opposite views on
most frequently the subjects
of comment.
Men in public life, who are most
the objects of editorial criticism.
very often cast about in search of
some Interior motive for newspaper at
tacks and their most frequent excuse