Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-15
Editorial Comment
A Word on Political JOURNALISM
Lewiston Journal.)

(Lewiston Journal.)
No editor should hold political Of
| flee or be bound to the coat-tail Of
any political party.
In the days of the personal and
partisan press, the editor was apt to
| be very able; and very partisian-
Greeley, Weed, Dana, Goodwin. Ben
nett, Medill, etc. Greeley would have
been a greater man as a free-agent:
not always striving for Office. His
own letters and his autobiography
show the consuming desire of the
man for political office. 1t was this
that inspired his famous letter dis
solving the political partnership of
Seward. Weed and Greeley-if that
be the composition of the same ac-
cording to our memory. Thurlow
Weed would have been a great editor
had he not been a consummate politi-
cian George d. Prentice, shrewd
and clever as he was. yet saw no
further than the welfare of his
party.
The editor or publisher of a news
paper may make Understanding
promises and propaganda. He may
illuminate against craftsmanship while
holding Office in political party; but
he cannot make the world believe it
and he cannot make good in his pro-
tcstations, whatever be his will. He
cannot serve two masters. He must
deny the one or the other. Either
the political party rears its head and
dc .I,,
or he yields to the call of the chief
tains and becomes a follower of the
band-wagon. He may think he can
do the impossible; but as a rule he
cannot. For this reason there are
very few editors and publishers who
are trying to do the two things.
Most of them who hold Office are
humble followers of the party. Yet
it is better for the newspaper editor
or owner to be free to do as he
pleases without regard to any party.
No person Connected with the Lew
iston Journal has held any political
Office for more than generation.
There was time, when every editor
used the newspaper as a regular
stepping stone to prefcrment. Not in
the Lewiston Journal for many years
not since Congressman Dingley
closed his long and effective public
service. has there been any definite
connection between the public office
and the editorial end or the publica-
ton end of the Lewiston Journal.
At present it favors editorially the
Republican party. It has seen the
time within the past / years when il
declined to support republican can
didatc for President and strcnuously
fought the reelection of William II.
Taft. Through a long term Of years.
it has found in as opinion n larger
degree of capacity to administer the
affairs of Mainc-as we sec tin the !
republican party. Today it favors
the reelection of Gov Baxter. It
favors the return to Congress of Wal |
lace III. White. who has been a faith |
full diligent, useful and capable Con-
gresham gaining overly session !
larger authority and wider inf1u- |
ence in the National House. But it |
proposes to use nj, candidates of all |
parties fairly and dispassionately.
The right of a newspaper to give the !
news as it pleaSes and to run it's edi- |
torial policy in contra -distinction to its !
news is another of the divine rights. |
so to speak. of the Publisher Some |
newspapers do it to assist circulation: |
others do it conscientously. A repor- /
ter can usually "sec news" according |
to orders; but here and there is q /
newspaper man who can see it only as |
he SEES II. This is something that
the outsider can not properly chastise
the publisher and editor for doing.
But the editor or publisher who ac-
cepts high-olfce from political party
and who does this, is likely to have his
troubles. He may-if he be a master
mind. Indispensable in the councils of
the party-be able to convince the
that he is a valuable
member of the executive relations of
the Party; but ordinarily, he will have
trouble.
Hence we are not advising any editor
or publisher to cease to be independ-
ent; we are advising that If he be so
determined he should get out Of the
gears of the political machine We
are not saying to him that he cease to
be Independent. but that he cease to
De partisan We are not saying get