Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-06-19
NATIONAL EDITORS
LUNCH WITH BYRD
Hear Talk on Newspaper Making
Filled With Common Sense

The pen as well as the sword
should be welded with certain
.Ghivalrous restraint, declared Sena-
tor Harry f. Byrd. publisher OF the
Winchester Evening Star, in address
ing a party of about $50 members
of the National Editorial Association
Sunday afternoon at luncheon at
his large commercial apple orchard
west of Winchester. The editors
were completing their 15-day tour Of
Virginia, following adjournment of
the annual convention, held at Rich
mond.
day morning in the Empire Theatre
by the Rev. Robert B. Nelson. rector
of Christ Episcopal Church, after
which the party toured Civil War
battlefields and other points of inter
est as guests of the Chamber of Com
merce. The luncheon at the Byrd
orchard Sunday afternoon also at
tracted many people from the sur
rounding country. The editors were
guests of the Front Royal Business
Mems Association at dinner Sunday
evening, and returned to Winches-
ter for the night. They left early
Monday for Frederick, Md, and
Tuesday,, Wednesday and Thursday
were spent in Washington.
"As l have been, since the age of
Is years, newspaper man myself, .
said eSnator Byrd, 81 have warm
feeling, born of natural sympathy
for newspaper men everywhere. l
know the difficulties of the work and
the great responsibilities resting
upon the shoulders of the editor.
1.-THE word newspaper very well
defines its main purpose, which is to
record the daily happenings through
out the world, when such events
have elements of public interest. II
is not easy to select the things it is
well to publish.
There is no hard and fast rule
to determine what should be pub
lished and what should not be pub
lished between what is obviously un-
fit and obviously fit.
Things often occur, the publica
ton of which adds unduly to the
sorrow of good people, and whether
these should be published or not
must be determined by the consci
ence of the editor. He must deter
mine for himself whether more gooC
or harm will result from the publica
ton.
Modern journalism combines the
presentation of facts with expression
of editorial views designed to affec
public opinion. Herein lies the
greatest power of the editor and hil
greatest temptation. 1t is very hu
man for the editor to put himself
in the place of an advocate at tht
bar. He is tempted to present hi
facts and arrange his arguments al
to persuade his readers to this OF
that conclusion.
But in fact, the case of the law
yer pleading at the bar is quite diff
ferent in this, that his adversary i;
there to confute him, if he can. But
when an editor 'roasts' man, his
adversary is at a disadvantage, be
cause he has not equal facilities tC
answer. This is equally true of the
proponents of cause. Therefore
the pen, as well as the sword. should
be welded with a certain chivalrous
restraint, having regard for the ad
versary's means of defense.
81 have noticed that the influence
of newspaper is in proportion Il
the confidence of the public in it,
fairness. Newspapers being conduct
ed by men have a personality anC
reputation which is good, bad or in
different, and this. reputation is JUS
as distinctive as an individual. The
editor who wishes to be fair want.
to give both sides, but he can do thi.
only within limits, because after all
he must run his own paper.
in the large majority am proud
of the fact that the editors of the
country are mindful of their heavy
responsibilities. They know they
deal with public opinion, which il
this country is the court of last re
sort, and which will at one time OF
another pass final judgment upor
all men and all measures. An en-
hghtened public opinion which is sc
organized that it can express its will
is the real government, and all pub
lie officials are its creatures.
Il think your journey through the
country is splendidly conceived ad.
venture. Nothing can better equip
newspaper writer than seeing al
first hand how other people think
talk and live. I extend to you the
hospitality of the Valley of Virginia
which rejoiees in your presence. 1t
will be a pleasant thing to US if you
take back to your homes good mem
cries Of our people and our country.
Il think / can say that you will
find nowhere a broader conception
of our national unity than in Vir-
ginia. We realize with pride, our
one and indivisible union with the
association of commonwealths which
] cnmnnsa this union y