Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-08
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who Are the DeadheRdsf
The New York Mail truly says the out
side world have strange notions about the
privileges of the press. They see Journal
lists going here and there without paying
their way, they find them in favored seats
at the play, the public meeting aud the
grand dinner; and so they look upon edit
ors as peculiarly favored class, constantly
receiving compliments and benefits for
which they return nothing. Let us say at
once, that this is grave error. There is
not in journalism legitimate worker who
does not in service of solid value, pay
twice, five, nay ten times over for every
favor he receives. Aud these conditions
between journalism and The people are not
likely TO be changed.
A newspaper is In some sort public prop
erty. If Jones' wife runs away, or his
barn burns, or his COW has a three-legged
cali, everybody expects the newspapers TO
tell all about it. If target company goes
out TO shoot, the newspaper is expected to
advertise the fact in advance, send re-
porter with the boys, and print portraits of
the winners. If a man wants to buy any
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the newspapers to blow his horn free gratis
for nothing. If housekeeper is aggrieved
at the amount of his gas bill, the newspa-
per must bulge with his sorrows, and ten
to one he is dissatisfied because the editor
did not add leading article on tho gas
monopoly. If good-ior-nothing shoat
wants to get into Office he raises money
enough to treat fifty bummers, who, in the
sacred recesses of some porter house,
"whereas" and "resolve" the shoat into a
Irregular candidate" and he, of course,
forwards to the newspaper a glowing sc-
count of the great popular movement"
etc. and of course the newspaper is ex-
pected to print it.
But we need not multiply instances. AL
though the press pursues its business for
gain, it must of necessity be the pack
horse of the people. It must, in pursuance
of its purpose as the medium for dissemin-
ating news, record millions of facts or ru-
mors that are of more or less personal BEN
eft TO somebody. The press cannot omit
an item of news that may be of interest to
the public, although in printing 1t some
person or corporation gets valuable
amount of gratuitous advertising Men who
mako newspapers must spend much of
their lives in performing deeds Of gratuity ;
they must come and go at the beck and call
of the people they must air the peoples
grievances at their own cost write up
the sorrows and joys of others as well as
their own print the fact that Smiths pigs
have destroyed Browns garden; notice
sudden deaths and remarkable births, and
like the disinherited knight, be ready 10
espouse the cause and fight the battle oil
every aggrievGd mortal in the land.
1t is the people and not the journalists
who are "dead- rs case anything
more serious than stubbing the toe befalls
man, he hastens TO the nearest newspaper
and demands that the editor shall WELD the
pen and shed ink in his vlndicalion or de-
tense. Aud if the jaded editor does not
espouse the cause of his "patron" he will
make an enemy for life.
members of the press" are literally
hunted down by all sorts of people who
have axes 10 grind. The managers of {
public meeting who do not find the report
ers at the table, suffer stings of disappoint
ment; the judge, who generously b!ow'
his nose before reading his opinion, look
anxiously for the stenographers; th'
preacher, who descants upon some specia
subject, loses spirit if the representative
of the press are not there; even the burg
lar on the way TO State Prison, covets
talk with the newspaper man." Yet tn
outside barbarian thinks all newspape
men are dead-heads, and envies them th,
fine times they have in the way of free din
ners and free tickets 10 all manner OF shows
There never was greater mistake. PEG
pie do not seem to realize that, on the par
Of the journalist, it is merely matter O
business; that the editor or reporter goe
to these places so attractive TO the outsider
much as the horse goes TO the plow-be
cause he must do so. We venture TO sa,
that four-fifths of these entertainments ar
TO journalists intolerable bores. The pres
Is the victim of the public's rapacious AM
unceasing demand for service without pay
Let us have the boot on the right leg.