The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-09
. After Many
Years
Ne~spsper-A Feast
For Every Guest
4 SisIwari in the
journalistic Field
Others Do the
Job Today
BY T. 7. SHORT

i American journalism. no pa
p<r gave such stalwart and effec-
tive support toward the establish
ment Of American institutions as
the Massachusetts Centinel estab-
lshed in 17s4 by William Warden
and Benjamin Russell. Both men
were in their early 20s. Warden
The older, was the business man
sser but IL was Russell. the editor
who made the paper an effective
medium for the upbuilding Of the
government
Both men had the highest ideals
for their paper and sought TO
make il meet the needs Of the en-
tire community. This thought is
expressed in the last verse Of a
long poem in the first issue en-
titled The Newspaper"
A newspaper Is like a feast.
Some dish there Is for every guest.
some large. some small. some
sIIOnk. some
Those who roast beef and ale de-
light in.
Are pleased with trumpets. drums
and fighting.
ror those who are more puny made.
Are arts and sciences and trade;
For fancifm and amorous blood
We have a soft poetic food.
For witty and satiric folks.
Hinh-SpaGOned acid Jokes.
And when we strive 10 please the
mob,
There's a Jest. a quarrel or a Job.
Look over your newspaper
tonight and see how nearly II
comes to serving every essen
tial activity and interest
"some dish for every guest"
It was largely through the In
fluence of the Centinel that Massa-
chusetts supported the constitution
adopted by the Philadelphia con-
vention and it was entirely that in
fluence which brought about it's
adoption by that state. Failure Of
Massachusetts, to have done So
might have turned the scales in
the other direction.
Another service to the nation
was the Centiners fight against
e the free trade which representa-
tives Of English manufacturers
and merchants sought to set up In
the United States. Some Amer
-ican citizens, thinking only of their
own profit, became representatives
Of the English firms and sought to
make the Americans believe that
the goods they handled were,
manufactured in this country. As
Il the English goods could be sold
q at a lower price than American
i. goods there were plenty of dealers
who would handle them.
- The campaign of the Centinel
created such an adverse public
sentiment against the English
; traders that the volume or i'm
ports was very materially reduced
. and placed by American goods.
a., Russell had a jubilant style OF
announcing the progress Of federal
principles. After the Inauguration
Of Washington the Centinel an
nounced the event in this wise:
Just launched on the Ocean
of Empire, the ship Columbia,
GORGE WASHINGTON,
commander, which after being
thirteen years in dock, Is at
length well manned and In
very good condition. The ship
Ia a first rste-has a very
good bottom which the build
ers have pronounced SOUND.
Some objection has been made
10 parts of the tackle or run
ming rigging, which, 1t Is sup
posed. will be altered. -.
A jury of carpenters now have
this under consideration.
May this good ship put TO sea,
and the prayer Of all IL that
God may preserve her and
bring her In safety TO her de-
sired haven.
This interesting sidelight Is evi
dence Of Russell's sincerity in sup
porting the government: When TN
first session Of Congress was calle'
the country was in debt and with
out funds to pay for the PRINTING
of public documents. Russell wrot
TO the department of state and OF
fered to do the printing for notn
ing. Several years later he wa
asked for his bill. He sent
marked, paid in full Wne
George Washington heard Of Il n
said
This must not be. When
Mr.. Russell offered 10 publish
the laws without pay, we were
poor. 1t Was a generous offer
We are now able to pay our
debts. This IL a debt of honor
and must be paid"
A few days later Russell y
oeived a check for $1,000. the III
amount Of the printing expense
Benjamin Russell and ms new
paper continued 10 perform q gres
service for constitutional govern
ment until his health failed uno'
the strain. He died in his siee
at the age Of 81. His partner "a
passed away at the age Of 70
II was with such heritage M
the American newspaper grew
lie nraaarf cyraaf estate HetuZ g