The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-08

"EntanglinE Alliances Il would like to read as an
Introduction an editorial appearing the time OF
the death in 1926 of E W. Scripps, founder Of the
organization which I represent here today.
The editorial said:
That there was room in America for newspapers
which represented only their readers; which repre-
scented no party, or club boc-no special inter
est whatsoever.
Such was the philosophy which E. W. Scripps,
less than half century ago founded the largest group
of newspapers the world ever has seen
The philosophy was novel at the time
Before that dav back in the seventies, there we're
newspapers aplenty.
But the newspaper which frankly didn't serve
some interest or other political commercial was
so rare as to be negligible The journalism OF that
day was the journalism OF the party organ.
To wear label to belong to clique, was the
thing" in newspaper making then. The greatest OF
the daiHes were either Republican Democratic.
And those that didn't specialize in politics spoke for
the organized commercial interests Of their day. The
IS per cent" of the newspaper reading public was
represented amply; the "95 per cent" had no medium
OF expression.
To be the friend in court Of those who had no
other spokesman
To know news and to print it, unn1uenced by
those who wanted something put in or something
kept out
To comfort the afflicted on the theory that the
comfortable would take care of themselves, but to
deny hearing to none
These we're the tools that E. W. Scripps took to
his Job forty-scven years along with a little
money and an unlimited capacity to inspire men.
The beginning was humble, as have been the be-
ginnings of most things in America that have grown
great.
F. w. Scrpps is dead
But the thought OF independent Journalism, the
thought with which he pioneered will live on in the
organization he founded and in the journalism of
America.
And quotation from the first issue OF the
Cleveland Press published in 1878.
What are your politics?" asked a certain Cleve-
land gentleman today of the editor of the Penny
Press
The gentleman was told to look for his answer
In the paper. This was it:
We have no politics that is, in the sense of the
word as commonly used We are not Repub-
Iican not Democratic, not Greenback and not Pro-
hibtonist We simply intend to support good men
and condemn bad ones. support good measures and
condemn bad ones. matter what party they
belong to.
We shall tell no lies about persons or policies
for love malice or money It is part of news
papers business to array itself the side of this
or that party. or fight, lie Wrangie for it. The
newspaper simply should present all the facts the
editor is capable of obtaining concerning men and
measures before the bar of the public, and then
after having discharged its duty as a witness, be
satisfied to the jury in the case-the public
to find the verdict!
Half a century after that first scripps Howard
newspaper was founded the organization had grown
70 twenty-five daily publications scattered from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Great Lakes to
the Gulf. But the basic principle has remained I'M
changed It is the same today as it in the be-
ginning.
Robert P Scripps. son of E. w Scripps. and sue
csssor 10 him as controlling sockhoder. recently was
asked by reader to express his views on this growth
of chain newspaper ownership and on the journalistic
ideal in general His reply sounded the same Keynote
that had characterized the original conception His
letter said.
TT strikes me that the chief concern OF the public
with the newspaper press is hat its motives shall be
,nnixed that it shall have special interests to
serve If newspaper be dull and undressing slow
or INADEQUATE in news coverage. poorly printed or
otherwise physically deficient, people easily can
and quickly mark such shortcomings-and read some
other paper The serious situation and one that takes
long to recognize is that of the newspaper whose
owner or owners. have personal axes 10 grind
-Ciiven reasonable degree OF intelligence and Just
the elements OF technical training it strikes me tha
tho hest qualification for newspaper publsher-not
from the public point of views that he shall be
exclusively newspaper with all his eggs IN at
least one kind OF basket nothing to do but watch
the eggs
with all this in mind. and considering the careers
Of number of successful newspaper men that have
known or known Of I often have wondered what
other course than the toward group operation
successful journalism this country logically could
take.
consider the case Of the man, usually young, who
actually has succeeded in establishing a great and
financially independent journal in any American city
He necessarily has created organization in both
editorial and business offices competent to carry on
with little S,Ipervson-and if he the sort of pub
Usher who seeks make his paper an institution not
simply means OF personal expression. he lets his
associates function as freely possible.
IF such man sticks 10 his home town. he viii
90 into outside business into politics as an office
%seeker or boss in either establishing outside
al ,ra~ far as he