The first duty of an editor is to gauge the senti-
mente of his readers, and then tell them what they like to believe. By thia means he maintains or increaaes the circulation. His second duty is to Bee that nothing is said in the news items or editorials whicli may discountenance any claims or announcements made by his advertisers, discredit their standing or good faith, or expose any weakness or deception in any business venture that i& or may become a valuable advertiser. By this means he increases the advertising value of his circulation.' The net result is that both the news columns and the editorial columns are commonly 'meretricious in a high degree.
Systematic insincerity on the part of the ostensible purveyors of information and leaders of opinion may be deplored by persons who stickle for truth and pin their hopes of social salvation on the spread of accurate information. But the ulterior cultural effect of the insincerity which is in this way required by the business situation may, of course, as well be salutary as the reverse. Indeed, the effect is quite as likely to be salutary, if " salutary " be taken to mean favorable to the maintenance of the established order, since the insincerity is guided by a wish to avoid any leaion of the received preconceptions and preju-
' As a aide line, which aSorda play fur the staS'a cruative talent, whatever Is exception all 7 sen salional at the same time that it la barmleflB to the advertisers' iDtereata should, in newspaper alaug, be " playod
NATURAL DECAY OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE 387