Page:The Washington Newspaper volume 6.djvu/11

 sive, fearless and fair. As Henry Watterson once said:

"A newspaper, like a woman, must not only be honest, but must seem to be honest—acts of levity, loose unbecoming expressions or behavior— though never so innocent— tending in the one and in the other to lower reputation and discredit character. During my career I have proceeded under a confident belief in this principle of newspaper ethics and an unfailing recognition of its mandates. I truly believe that next after business integrity in newspaper management comes disinterestedness in the public service, and next after disinterestedness come moderation and intelligence."

Over fifty years ago, on March 30, 1809, General Robert E. Lee, then the president of Washington College (later named Washington and Lee College, in his honor) made the first definite proposal to add a course in journalism to the college curriculum. It is gratifying to observe that the courses now taught follow in the main, the suggestion of that great Virginian.

In all the courses in journalism in the American universities, stress is put on the ethics of the profession. This is right. The results can but be a still higher plane. Newspapers of tomorrow will be taken more seriously by the reader, and the newspaper man of tomorrow will feel more clearly the responsibilities of his work.

President Clarence Ellington has named the following executive committee for the State Press Association the coming year: J. C. Kaynor, Ellensburg Record, chairman; Grant Angle, Mason County Journal; Dan Cloud, Montesano Vidette; J. C. Harrigan, Colville Examiner; Ray Eldridge, Mount Vernon Argus.

In naming this committee President Ellington says he has in view a committee that he feels will do things, that will represent geographically, various sections of the state, and at the same time will represent the weekly or country press. In naming the committee President Ellington calls attention also to the fact that the Institute at the University this winter and the summer sessions of the association at Rainier Park, are west side meetings.

Concerning the year in prospect President Ellington says: "Your president hopes the meetings of the coming year will bring out a larger representation of editors and newspaper men. Members who attend regularly keep the association alive and active, and individually get a great deal from all the meetings. But there are altogether too many of the newspaper fraternity who do not attend any of the meetings, and therefore miss obtaining great benefits that come to those who work cooperatively in a common cause. Unitedly the newspapermen of this state can accomplish anything they set out to accomplish. Moreover, if the association programs are not to the liking of all members of the profession in the state, by attending, they can make any changes they wish.

"The Institutes at the University each winter are not only enjoyable, but instructive as well, and those who do not attend certainly miss great opportunities for practical help in their 229