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

and exclusively, TO prosper or 10 IAN by.
when ne found that he had acquired control
of his Cleveland Press that it could make reasonable
profits and function editoriay without his personal
presence in the office except for short periods, and
when he found that his chief diversions of reading
and study failed altogether to satisfy, he was at
loss for something constructive to do
Ard so he launched what has become the Scripps-
Howard group of newspapers, by going to Cincinnati
to save a badly r'~Aovn and then bankrupt daily
"A common phrase, and in derogation of the group
newspaper, is foreign ownership. Geographically it
describes the situation fairly accurately. Local edi-
tors and business managers of Scrpps-H Howard news
papers, as well many other partners, are consider
able and influential stockholders. Nevertheless, live
in Ohio and Connecticut and have trustee Of the
estate Of E W. Scrtpps, controlling voice in affairs
and policies of newspapers in California Tennessee
and other states.
However. it is my feeling that fundamental jour
nalistc obligations the same all over this coun-
try and that I actually am less OF foreigner in any
newspaper field in America than is for instance
contemporary who holds and chiefly prizes public Of
fee as a member of political party, or who is in
the real estate or banking other outside bust
which has its special point of view, and of whose
total assets his newspaper interests comprise only
minor part
1t chances that within the last week, revelations
''"0t'SON~
brought forth the fact that great power and paper
company has been entering the field of newspaper
ownership. 1 will ask your indulgence for the read
ing of just thing more-our editorial expression
IN that event
The daily newspaper is institution of general
distinct from class circulation BY its very nature,
therefore it must be single in purpose to be effective
Its mission is to serve all the public and not just
part It's range OF influence is in direct ratio to its
freedom from entangng alliances
The history of newspaper failures is dotted thick
ly with those which have violated that principle.
Why?
Simply because it is not within the range of
human nature for newspaper publisher successful
ly to serve TWO masters
Take concrete case:
Suppose you owned newspaper and gas COM
pany. Could you be impartial in your editorial at
titude toward the gas rate that your community
pays2
For the same reason that brother of q man on
trial is excluded from jury service so outside in
terests, whether they be social financial political
must be excluded when one goes into newspaper
publishing.
The effort, therefore, of the International Paper
and Power Company to inject itself into American
Journalism contains the germs OF its own destruc-
ton.
The International Paper and Power Companys
major interest, by its own testimony, is power.
To it, accordingly, that great truth will apply:
Where its treasure is, there will its heart be also
The public instnctively will recognize that.
And the public will write its own answer
1 am emphasizing singleness of purpose as so
vitality important for the very simple season that the
newspaper, like the human race, is not perfect. It
is subject to and susceptible to the same temptations
as is the human
If it puts itself deliberately into the path of
temptation. it, like any human being is likely to
yield If it so organizes its operation as automat-
icay to avoid temptation it very much helps itself
toward success.
Outside interests of whatever sort are tempta-
tons that may and probably will lead to failure
AS I view it, the E. w. ScrippS ideal was one of
enlightened selfshness.
He wanted to succeed He wanted his associates
to succeed. He did not fatter himself that he and
his associates inherently any more ethical than
any else. He did not have the hoier- than thou
attitude.
He merely decided that chances for success were
better if the routed through that part of
the journalistic sea wherein the sirens of outside in
fuence would not be encountered.
Having at the outset become thoroughly convinced
operation in all detail to accord with it.
AS his fortune grew, instead of investing it In
other forms of property, the ownership of which
would warp his Journalistic Judgment, he simply
started purchased newspapers.
Realizing the value in terms of hard work, enthu-
SiaSm and loyalty of ownership interest, he arranged
for his operating officials to become stockholders in
his newspapers thereby making it possible for them
the properties increased in value, to gain in the
appreciation we'll as in the salary column. But he
insisted that they conne their interests the single
purpose, he had
And TO perpetuae the stockholding in the active
management of the newspapers, he created option
plan by which those who retire resell their stocks,
take the appreciation that has occurred during their
regime of activity the stock then being resold
to the new local management.
AS he neared the close of his remarkable career, in
order that the purpose which had been the unfying
influence of his professional life might not end with
him, E W. ScrppS established the trusteeship which
IS unique in the history of American journalism.
The essence of that truSteeshp is to continue that
which he had built up dedication for the future
~ he Gin 70