The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-01-08

DANA AND GREELEY
Charles A. Dana OF the
Sun',-wrote: Whenever in the
newspaper profession man rises
up who is original strong and bold
enough TO make his opinions a mat
ter OF consequence TO the public,
there will be personal journalism.
Dana fitted the pattern to himself.
So did Horace Greeley. And so
today do two midwest editors
locked in battle on the issue Of aid
to Britain.
Like Dana and Greeley who
transferred their personal crusad'
ing from New England to New
York. William Allen White and
Verne Marshall have made New
York the battle-ground for their
respective campaigns
White. editor OF the Emporia.
Kansas, Gazette. heads the Com
mittee to Defend the United States
by Aiding the Allies Marshall. his
junior in years, is editor of the
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gazette and
chairman Of the NO Foreign War
Committee
White and Marshall both favor
aid TO Britain but they are in sharp
disagreement as to how much and
as. 10 the method with Marshall
claiming that Whites program is
carrying the nation down the road
to war.
Dana and Greeley split as sharply
on the question Of slavery abolition
which precipitated the war between
the states. Both were opposed TO
slavery but Greeley was for peace
full secession whereas Dana held
the Union to be insoluble.
Greeley was editor. Dana manag-
ing editor OF the Tribune at the
time and both wrote its editorials.
There were days when puzzled read
ers scarcely knew where the pow
erful sheet stood on abolition with
Greeley writing what would be
termed today the "appeasement"
slant and Dana for preservation OF
the Union at all costs.
Matters reached head in 1852
when Greeley served notice that II
Dana's resignation was not request
ed he himself would quit. Greeley
denied TO Dana that he had made
the request but the brilliant man
aging editor who was later 10 edit
the Sun established the truth
through others. among them one OF
the governing board OF the
Tribune.
Marshall and White are bound
by none OF the onepaper Royalties
such as headed off the break be-
tween Greeley and Dana-until
Dana espoused the "On to Rich
mond" march which Greeley repu-
dated after Bull Run and when the
Iowa editor set out on his mission
10 halt what he believes to be a
definite trend toward war his open
ing SHOT was a challenge TO White
10 debate and a charge that his
Kansas contemporary is espousing
the war cause whether he knows
it or not.
White, whose position and whose
cause went virtually unchallenged
until Marshall rode into New York
with fire in his eyes, has let pass
the debate challenge but he has
since clarified his aims and those
of his organization TO the extent
Of saying that he does not want
war for the United States.
Marshslls position is entirely
clear-strict observance OF the
Neutrality Act
1T seems manifest 10 me that
the spirit Of the Neutrality Act is
being showed around he says.
Il believe in whatever help can
be given the British under the Neu-
trality Act but didn't know II per.
mitted the President to give away
so destroyers without the permis-
sion OF Congress.
THE people are being led TO
war; right, straight, down the
road"
The Iowa editor who dared to
challenge the older more prominent
exponent OF Britain's cause is no
newcomer in the crusading field,
however.
With the finances OF his paper he
plunged into an Investigation OF Of.
fetal corruption in Iowa which won
a Pulitzer prize in 1886.
A hard fighter. a slugger who
never pulls punch. be is a match
for the Kansas veteran. Dana and
Greeley were only eight years apart
but Marshall. II years Whites
junior, is no respecter % age when
principles are involved.
Dana might well have set the pat.
tern for both Of them when he
wrote OF his ideal newspaper man
original. strong aud bold enough
10 make his opinions a matter OF
consequence TO the public"
Certainly there are few in the
United States who have not heard
the opinions OF William Allen
White and Verne Marshall and
there is no doubt that these opin.
ions are "a matter OF consequence
to the public"
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Four languages are spoken in
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