The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-17

province of the Chicago papers. To
bounce upon every man from the country
Who visits Chicago and held him up to
,idicule is their fate. If gentleman is
enough to be summoned there
IS witness, the Chicago papers under
AXE to put him through an examination
BY some illiterate and unmannerly reporter.
IF he objects to the process they dish up
4 column of stuff about him at venture.
They even pretend to report his testimony
tas the Tribune did in the case of M. I.
Wiser, Of this city, before the grand jury
when be was not before the jury at all.
Failing 10 finding material for their dish
water reports in witnesses, they attack
jurymen and insult them by questions as
to their action, etc., etc. If state com
mittee meets in Chicago, the lazaroni of
the Chicago press write columns of pre-
tended interviews which they lie out
right in nearly everything they say, giving
reported sayings of members who said not
a word. We hope no state committee vii
ever meet in Chicago again, for they can
not receive decent treatment there
The Chicago papers are equally un-
scrupulous in reporting political conven-
TONS Their columns are filled with a
mess of trash and Misrepresentation which
they palm off upon their readers as re-
port when it is no report at all-it is a
fraud on their readers and misrepresenta-
ton of facts from the beginning. Motor
iously is this the fact in regard to the
Farmers movement, the Patrons of Hus-
bandry. the Independent party. An
honest and fair report of one of their con-
ventions need not be expected from any
Chicago daily paper. Abuse and misrepre-
sentation is their fate. But the people will
not be deceived; they understand show
the cat jumps" and the stiff breeze from
the farms of Illinois is beginning to have
its effect, as will be seen by the following,
from the Bloomington Leader:
'The reports sent from this city of the
| doing of the Farmers State Association,
and published in the Chicago Times and
| Tribune were not in any sense Of the word
truthful reports; in fact they were not
reports at all, but simply burlesque Of
the whole proceedings. This is not as ii
should be. Every gathering of respectable
men is entitled to a fair report of its say.
ings and doings, on the part of the public
newspapers, no matter whether its sayings
and doings agree with the policies or prin
ciple of the papers publishing the reports
or not. The readers of newspapers want
the facts, and are perfectly able to Judge
from the facts, as to the soundness or un
soundness of the principles laid down. lr
our estimation it is the true province of a
reporter to give, in what is passed off upoI
the readers as report of the proceedings
fair and truthful statement. Then, if il
is desired to burlesque or controvert the
action, let it be done editorially. Wher
this is done, the readers can judge, from
reading the report of what was done
whether the editorial comments are peril
nent and just or not 1t is very easy
matter for a witty reporter 20 sit down an(
burlesque any meeting, and such,as bur
lesque. is perfectly legitimate, but II
palm off upon the people as the proceed
ings of a grave. deliberate body, suci
burlesque is an injustice to the body itself
and downright swindl3 upon those wht
were not present, and who depended upor
the newspapers to learn what was reall,
said and done. The editorial columns of
paper are the property of the editor, ant
he can express such opinions as he ma,
please in them, but the news columns be
long to the public, and should contain
truthful reports, not the pointless wit
ticisns of brainless pencil showers. TIL
Farmers Association was made up @
earnest, thoughtful men brought togethe
for the discussion of grave subjects, i
which every citizen is equally interested
5 Their ideas and plans may have bee
moonshine or otherwise, but whatever the
were, they were entitled to have ther
truthfully presented to the public, and tn
e public, which depends upon the newspaper
e for its information. is entitled to the sam
thing:
mo good cause is ever advanced b
? Misrepresentation. Ii doctrines subversiv
, of the best interests of the people are &C
vocated, the quickest and surest antidot
to those doctrines is to place them befor
the people just as they are. The peopl
= are not fools, to be deceived or hoodwinl
t ed. When they know precisely what
political party believes and proposes to d.
they have good sense enough to judg
whether it should be supported or not, an
they certainly do not need perverted {
distorted representations of what men sa
or do, to prevent them from being lie
= astray. We have no desire to appear q
+ the champion of the Farmers Association
!. Some of the speakers expressed opinion
with which we have no sympathy, and "
believe that in attempting to secure the
u objects through separate party organizatio
: the farmers are injuring their own cause
. but they are at least entitled to fair trea
ment, and to be placed before the publ
in their true light. This is free countr
e and people have a perfect right to act wit
whatever political party they please, an
q to advocate whatever political doctrine
r they may choose, and that. too, withou
being misrepresented and denounced q
communists or fools"
q THE WATER BOARD RING,