Newspaper Page Text
EDITORIAL PAGE
W THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN
Published Every Afternoon Except Sunday
By THE GEORGIAN COMPANY
L At 20 East Alabama St., Atlanta, Ga.
Entered as second-class matter at postoffice at Atlanta, under act of March S. 187»
<■ Subscription Price—Delivered by carrier. 10 cents a week. By mall, $5.00 a year.
Payable in advance.
r
| “The Editorial Writer’s Op-
I portunity”
* * *
It Is the Biggest and Most Neglected Opportunity in the
« \ United States.
J. Writing for a newspaper is merely talking wholesale. Instead
't” of talking to one man or a hundred at one lime we talk through
r ‘ newspapers to millions.
;i It is the greatest and most generally neglected opportunity in
»¥' the world. The editorial writer’s opportunity is the chance TO
; d SAY SOMETHING. Many writers neglect that opportunity.
The newspaper is many things in our life. It is the principal
literature of the American people, and, therefore, “good or bad,’" it
is highly important to the country.
i Among other things, the newspaper’s editorial column takes
the place of the public square at Athens, where one man could talk
to all of the citizens.
j The writer of the editorials is the lalker in the public square
of today. He can, if he chooses, do as much for this age as the
J Greek with the voice, instead of the pen or typewriter or phono
i graph, did in his age.
The best description of newspaper work and a very early ex
pression also of foolish misunderstanding of newspaper work may
be found in one short quotation from Schopenhauer\ essay : “Some
Forms of Literature.”
V ••The newspaper Is the second hand in the clock of history; and it is not
only made of baser metal than those which point to me minute and the
hour, but ft seldom goes right—ls It's wrong, the clock is wrong.
“The so-called lending article Is the chorus to tin- drama of passing
!l f. events.
“Exaggeration of every kind is essential to journalism as it is to the
dnunatlc art, for the object of journalism Is to make • vents go as far as
possible. Thus it. is that all journalists are. In the very nature of their call
ing, alarmists; and this is their way of giving interest to what they write.
Herein they are like little dogs—if anything stirs, they immediately set up
T f a shrill bark.
1® “Therefore, let us carefully regulate the attention to bo paid to this
trumpet of danger, so that It may not disturb our digestion. Let us recognize
T that a newspaper Is at best but a magnifying glass, and very often merely a
3 shadow on the wall."
The newspaper, it is true, is the “second hand” on I lie face of
the clock of history. It must exaggerate each second’s importance,
otherwise the seconds could not be counted.
4 It exaggerates, in comparison with the slow moving hour hand.
ik But it does not exaggerate, considering the needs of the individual
reader.
For if the newspaper is the second hand “in the clock of his
tory,” the individual is the second hand in tin* clock of humanity.
The nation is the minute hand, and the race is the hour hand.
1 The journalistic second hand in its rapid, exaggerated tallving
keeps pace with that human second hand, the individual, in his en
< forced concentration on the little things that happen in his little
« life.
An editorial can do four important, things;
Teach,
Attack,
Defend,
Praise.
Teaching is the most, important and the most difficult.
Attacking is the easiest and the most unpleasant, although
sometimes necessary.
The defending of good causes, of the weak against the strong,
of the new idea against ridicule, is important and usually neglected
by editorial writers.
Praise also is neglected, except in a partisan sense without
v meaning.
The newspaper is not as Schopenhauer says, “a shadow on the
wall." although many a newspaper is a mere shadow of what a
newspaper should be.
A newspaper is a mirror reflecting the public, a mirror more or
less defective, hut still a mirror. The papers of the different na
tions reflect the nations more or less accurately. And the paper
that the individual holds in his hand reflects that individual more
or less accurately.
Some mirrors and some newspapers are preserver as interest
ing old relics, although they have ceased to reflect anything.
And some newspapers startle the unaccustomed public with
the accuracy of the reflection shown, and the public takes time to
get used to it.
The newspaper does about what the public does; it is the public,
(not the newspaper, that sets the pace.
If you have every newspaper in the United States giving first
place to the result of a contest between eighteen men playing base
ball and accomplishing nothing useful in a “ehampionship series.”
you may be sure that the public is conventrated on that game.
If you have newspapers devoting space to the secret, pre-ar
ranged murder of a gambler by other gamblers instigated by a
police officer, you may know that the public’s mind is concentrated
on that crime and not on the proceedings of some seientilie con
vention.
The opportunity of the editorial writer is the greatest oppor
tunity that exists. For num have developed as men ynlv since lan
guage gave to the individual the power to transfer his thought com
plete to the brain of another.
The power to transfer your thought and make it vflective is
the greatest power, excepting the exceptional power to discover
new scientific truth.
It is possible for the editorial writer now to talk to at least live
millions every day. That actually happens.
With our newspaper machinery as it exists it will be possible
to talk to the entire reading public every day. No power can be
greater than that, lhe editorial writer s power is the power of sug
gestion and the power of repetition—very great forces.
h 4 opportunity of the editorial writer is wasted usually. It is
true that nearly always the so-called “leading article,” or editorial,
t “is the chorus oi the drama of passing events." Hut that is not
(always true, and it will be true less and less as the newspapers and
newspaper readers realize their duty and opportunitv.
<•.. The newspapers are like the churches. There ar* eminently re
spectable preachers that say nothing, ami less num* rous preachers
that say something.
First have something to say. Then sav it so that people will
SEE it, READ it, UNDERSTAND it ami BELIEVE it.
Those are the four things, the reader must SEE. he must READ
he must UNDERSTAND, he must BELIEVE.
If you want to write an editorial defending Moses against the
attack of Rabbi Ilirseh. who denounces some of Moses’ teachings,
you can put almost any kind of a heading on your editorial.
If you head it “Analysis of the Dietetic Teachings of the An
cients.” 90 per cent of those that “see” the heading won’t READ,
n ' OU can wr \ te the editorial, head it. “Be Kimi to Boor
He Had No Icebox." and !‘0 per cent of those that SEE will
AD
The Atlanta Georgian
/
‘‘Swimmers’ Squadron’’ of the Italian Army
A. ; - ’
r s '■ -
NigWC''
i 9 V. e .
■ - s
-- •-* L.
5 ' Ar
\
7 AA A) : ' '
-A, " -.a v
r ■ 7 s
n ‘
A new exercise in the Italian army maneuvers, dragoons in full service kit swdmming their horses
across the Ticino River at Ponte de la Torre.
The Scholar in Politics
Bv ELBERT HUBBARD.
»
NOW that the shouting of the •
captains has ceased and the
noise of battle has died
away, it is well to see that busi
ness, big and little, is not appre
hensive.
The worst didn’t happen. The
workers are going forth to their
tasks until the e' ening. The waters
flow , the winds blow, the sun shines.
Iron, steel, lumber and oil are in
demand.
Advices from Chicago, Denver,
San Francisco. Minneapolis, Phila
delphia and New York reveal the
fact that wholesale dealers are
struggling witlt an influx of tele
graph orders unprecedented.
Discounting Politicians.
Have we discounted the politi
cians? Possibly. In any event, we
are not afraid of the Scholar in
Politics. Scholars have never work
ed sad havoc. Soldiers in politics
occasionally have. Also, we are a
little afraid of the reformer and
the Utopian who conies with a
hand-made panacea. And certainly
we would avoid the professional
revolutionist and the anarchist.
But th*' scholar in politics is never
a danger and a menace to civiliza
tion.
The president-elect is a historian
and a student. And he knows,
above all men, that this world is
not to be made over by revolution
ary processes. Woodrow Wilson Is
sincere, but he is not serious. He
can smile. He realizes that we are
all in process, himself included.
Woodrow Wilson is not going to
inaugurate any speed-limit reforms
that w ill land business in the ditch.
Hi realizes that economics is under
the domain of natural law. He will
conserve and retain every beautiful
and excellent thing. At the same
time in' will regulate under proper
conditions and supervise in a sensi
ble way.
We Are Tired of Them.
Some of tile "outs” that have
been on half rations may show a
vociferous hunger for place, power
and pelf, but they will not stam
pede our Schoolmaster into unseem
liness, *
Ahd now it looks as if this elec
tion was going to work one distinct
constitutional reform.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1912.
•J* Possibly the danger of the Third
Term has been overrated in this in
stance, but, as Thomas Jefferson
intimated, there may cotne a time
when a man, drunk on power, rid
ing on the whirlwind of his ambi
tion. will fill the office twice and
thrice, and then decide to hold it
for life against all comers.
Even now thiid-term and unlim
ited-term advocates are agitating
the circumambient ether. As a peo
ple, we are tired of them.
Everything moves in circles, and
the man coming in the name of re
form has, time and again in the
past, proved himself first the dem
agogue and then the tyrant.
So now, while the subject is up,
and the Democratic party Is in con
trol, there is a very genuine demand
among the people for a fixing in
:: Daniel Webster ::
By REV. THOMAS B. GREGORY.
Daniel webster died just
sixty years ago. When it be
gan to be noised abroad that
the mighty man was no more, a
deep gloom settled down upon the
country, and men looked at one an
other in mingled amazement and
fear, as though the very end of the
world was at hand.
Webster was so colossal, and the
constitution and the Union had be
come so interpenetrated by his spir
it that when he passed away it was
felt that the fabric of the govern
ment must go along with him.
Nor was the fear without a foun
dation. History can and does re
peat Itself, and between the pass
ing of Webster and the taking away
of Mirabeau there is an almost per
fect historical resemblance. If
Mirabeau could have lived it is be
lieved that tlie terrors of the French
Revolution would have been avert
ed. and many feel that had Web
ster been spared for a few years
longer the Civil war would not
have come.
Be that as it may, there is no
doubt about the fact that Web
ster's was the one commanding
presence in the republic. It over
towered everything, standing up
above the personalities of other men
like a great mountain above the lit
tle hills about it.
It was Webster who made us
•• the constitution a limit to the time
that a man shall serve as president.
The question will probably be
presented to the people a year
hence to vote upon. . Now is the
time to do it. This is the psycho
logical moment, and the great mass
of the people should be allowed to
decide this particular question and
pigeonhole it once and forever.
We Need No Monarch.
America needs no monarch, dic
tator or czar. And the continual
agitation of the question is not
healthful. We are democrats.
The gentle ways, the patience
and the firm sway of the Scholar
are all right, but the dominion and
rule of the Strong Man, never! And
the Democratic party will confer on
the United States a great favor by
-- allowing the people to say so. soon.
•J* feel, for the first time, that we were
• Americans, and that every Ameri
can was the brother of every other
American.
Tlie purpose of his almost super
human eloquence was always to
help his countrymen keep step to
the music of the Union. He loved
his country, and his whole coun
try. A greater, tru >r patriot never
lived. To “give up to party what
was meant for mankivd," or to win
' party or personal advantage at the
cost of sectional ill will, was a
thought that never one.' came near
the head or the heart of Daniel
Webster. Had the thought been
suggested to him, he wo\ild have
spurned it with monster disdain.
Webster wanted to be president,
and might have been had ho been
willing to be president of less than
the whole of his country. But that
h*- would not be. and he died with
his great ambition unsatisfied
He died—and smaller niei. ran
the ship of state upon the rocks
which came near splitting her for
ever asunder: but fortunately
(thanks to the spirit of union which
Webster had engendered) the riven
timbers were joined again, and with
the sentiment of nationality strong
in all hearts we are sailing on
ward toward the destiny of which
Webster dreamed.
THE HOME PAPER
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Writes on
The Power of the Law of
the Divine Spirit
Be Upright Ourselves and Every
Great Social and Industrial
Evil Will Be Cleansed of Its
Impurities Eventually.
Written For The Atlanta Georgian
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Copyright, 3512. by American-Journal-Examiner. ‘ -•-•
rip HERE was a pretty little story
| told on the last page of a
meta physical magazine re
cently and signed “Selected.”
Here is the story, and it is full
of meaning:
A tired woman with a big basket
entered a ear.
She seemed very weary, and
staggered down the car to an empty
seat.
Then she sat down and lifted the
heavy basket to her lap.
She moved it from one knee to
‘the other to ease its weight.
Finally a workingman reached
across the aisle and said to her:
“Madam, if you will set the bas
ket on the floor the car will carry
you both.”
Take the story home.
Are you not carrying your basket
on your lap?
Are you not feeling it very heavy
and very hard to manage?
Then set it down on the floor of
God’s Car.
There is power enough to carry
you both.
The basket may contain disagree
able labor, innumerable worries and
all kinds of troubles.
Forget Your Tribulations.
That is your basket, and you are
given the work of getting it to your
destination.
BUT SET IT DOWN ON THE
FLOOR OF THE CAR WHICH IS
CARRYING YOU ALONG.
And take the journey as easily as
you can.
Forget about the weight of the
basket while you may, and know it
will be carried for you.
The same magazine has a month
ly motto. ,
This month it is:
“I HOLD QUIETLY AND FIRM
LY TO THE INTEGRITY AND
POWER OF THE LAW OF THE
SPIRIT.”
That is a great and glorious
thought to keep in mind.
No matter what your faith may
be or what your creed, hold to the
consciousness of the POWER OF
THE LAW OF THE DIVINE
SPIRIT to bring things out for
your best good.
Do not be in a hurry' to have it
manifested.
It will prov* itself when you are
ready.
There was a young girl who
longed and prayed for the influ
ence of certain people in high posi
tion to be given to her.
It seemed cruel and unkind of
Providence to refuse this boon.
Years afterward, when she had at
tained tile tilings she desired by her
own endeavors, s he thanked the In
visible Helpers that they had ch -
illed her early prayers.
She was stronger and better for
:: Getting a Living ::
By JAMES J. MONTAGUE.
S A Brooklyn doctor says that no one should tenter the medical profession
? without an Independent source of income.—News Item.
AVANTED to be a great surgeon.
And deftly remove people’s hides,
'A bile with consummate skill I plied chisels until
1 had whittled put half their insides.
But noble as seemed this ambition,
1 had to forego it perforce,
For I found I could not be a Doc till I’d got
An income from some other source.
II wanted to be an attorney
And spout such a pitiful tale.
I hat ih*'_jury would rise and with tear streaming eyes
Turn clients of mine out of jail.
But dhi'n I discovered that soup meat
Was bringing two dollars a bone,
I ver\ soon saw I could not practice law
Unless Fhad means of my own.
I wanted to be a policeman
Sublimely patrolling a beat.
A>id i l ightening erooks with my sinister looks.
1 ill they all worked in some other street.
But joining the forci*was beyond me
Until I had gathered my pile,
bor policemen must eat, and they can’t walk a beat
Lacking somethin*.' to live on'the while.
1 ve entered all sorts of professions,
But all my careers were ent short
By the hideous fact that 1 utterly lacked
lhe means for my daily support.
Tim only position that’s left me
that 1 ean afford to embrace,
Is being the heir of some oid millionaire,
An*l 1 m looking for just such a place!
e ' w
’ having made her own way, and she
had grown discriminating and
learned that the influence of those
she had desired should befriend her
would have been most unfortunate
for her in her youth.
Believe in the Invisible Helpers,
They are REAL BEINGS.
They are part of the great Di
ving Government which lias this
earthly sphere of ours under su
pervision.
No matter how it may seem to
you that things are going very
badly on earth, every century the
race is in reality advancing to a
higher plane.
Every Evil Will Be Rectified.
Everything which is flagrantly
evil is like the raging of fever in
the veins of a sick man; and the
fever will turn at the critical hour.
Things grow worse in our politics,
and in social and industrial mat
ters that they may be cleansed of
their impurities eventually; and
that, the race may see how useless
it is to try and find happiness in
any way but right ways.
If you are carrying on your lap
the iiea.vy basket jf ,l orry over oti.'
politics and our social evils, Pl 'i’
DOWN THE BURDEN ON THE
* FLOOR OF THE CAR.
Let the Power at the head of the
Invisible Government any it along
for you.
I, will du no good to hold h on
your lap.
Busy jour mind with high ’
of personal living. Keep straight
in your own affairs; be practically
unselfish; give thoughts of good
will to your competitors and rivals
in the field of endeavor. That is a
more constructive work toward bet
tering tile world than tailing ut tin
evils you see about you, mid it I*.
much harder.
Make Your Home Brighter.
Make your borne brighter and
happier—-for your presence in it.
Many men and women believe they
are doing their duty by their fam
ilies through hard work and con
stant effort to enlarge the fortunes
of those dear to them; yet they
make home the most miserable
place on earth by their ill-tempers,
their nervousness and their lack of
social qualities.
Hume building- is the first great
work of each mortal.
From the center of a happy, or
derly, cheerful and peaceful horn*
no matter how small and humble it
is, each of us may work out to
ward a larger usefulness.
But first we must make that
center.
And then keep in mind th*-
POWER OF THE LAW r TO BRING
THINGS OUT FOR THE BEST
AND THE POWER OF THE CAR
• TO'CARRY OUR BASKET.