Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-22
ENGLISH PRESS LORDS.
What Editors La Sage and Hards
man Say of American
Journalism.
How the London Reporter Inter-
views the Prime lIinister---Is
the "Thunderer's" Infiu-
ence Waning ---Hts
New Bolster.

New York Journal.
Mr.. John N La Sage, managing editor OF
The London Daily Telegraph, and Mr.. VIII
liam Hardman, one of the proprietors of The
Morning Post, were interviewed by q Journal
reporter upon the subject Of London and
New York journalism.
Mr.. La Sage represents a liberal news
paper. Mr.. Hartman is identified with
conservative one-of aristocratic type. Mr..
La Sage is robust gentleman, who strik-
ingly resembles Mr.. Archibald Forbes-the
celebrated war correspondent-both in man.
ner and looks. He is about forty-two years
of age, wears well trimmed muStache and
has strong, but not unpleasant, English
accent.
Mr.. William Hardnlan might be taken for
British country squire. He is, in appear
ance, the personifcation of the British Tory
of the old school. He is tall, portly in
figure, broad-shouldered and of ford COM
plexion. His age is about sixty. His face is
smooth-shaven and his hair is white.
'There is one thing in which must admit
you are far ahead of u.s." said Mr.. La Sage.
cit is in local news. The New York papers
evidently make that a speciality. Now on
The Telegraph, for instance, we have only
five gentlemen Who work on local assign
ments."
"And why so few:"
because in the very nature Of London
journalism it would be almost impossible to
give it the same proportionate space that you
do in New York. London is an aggregate Of
cities in itself, and the demand is supplied by
what might call district papers published in
the various parishes"
"What is the reason why the London dali
les give so much space to editorial utter
ancesg"
"For the simple reason that the reading
constituencies being SO much greater, and the
ground to be covered so much wider, the sub
jects to be treated upon are governed in
length by their importance. Our leader
as we term it, is, however, usually shorter
than those that follow it. The rule in The
Telegraph Office is to write every editorial Of
sufficient length that it will just turn the col
umn."
'Do you think that the great London pa
pers have reached their limit as regards
size?"
eyes They will remain stationary in
that respect, but presses cannot so beyond
the present limit"
'sYou are introducing the custom Of inter
viewing, are you notT
eyes, but it is considerably modified on
your principles. If I send gentleman to in
terview Mr. Gladstone, we do not quote Mr..
Gladstone as saying so and so, but simply
state that Mr.. Gladstone will do so and so,
and the paper accepts the full responsibility
for the statement. There are, however, ex-
captions. Take the recent interview with NJ.
de Lesseps on the Suez canal question. There
was an instance where M. de Lesseps's utter
ances were really important and possessed
far more significance coming from him di-
rectly than they would have done had they
been placed in the third person."
''What is your opinion of London society
journaism?"
ct am not in favor of it. think it is bad
taste and worse policy to introduce private
personalities and doings into print"
(Which has the greater influence, the opin-
ion of the people, or the opinion Of the
newspapers!"
81 think that public opinion in London is
mainly formed by the newspapers. I am
quite sure that it exercises great influence
on the ministry Mr. Gladstone's policy on
the eastern question was a case in point, and
although l don't think him the greatest
statesman England has had, do think he
has wonderful faculty Of getting out Of bad
corners. This I think is due in large degree
to editorial writing"
sFWhat is the circulation of The Tels-
graphg'
''The daily average is 24O,OO0 copies. The
highest it has ever reached is 301, 000."
Mr.. William Hardman was asked whether
The London Times was still considered as
the representative paper among English
journals.
sThe London Times has deteriorated vastly
in influence these last few years. It's decline
really dates from the time of Mr. Delam's
death. Fifteen years ago it was really pow
er in England. But it has no longer the
monopoly of the brains of the metropolis
There are other journals whose owners are
far more wealthy, whose writers are far more
brilliant 1t is true that The London Times
still maintains a reputation of its own for
certain classes Of work. Its legal and parlia-
nentary reports are still unexcelled. 1t also
commanGspeculiar facilities for certain classes
of special work. It's latest evidence of weak
ness, however, is seen in the fact that its pro-
prietor has thought Fit to publish half
penny compendium of its daily news, called
The Summary. Of what use this Summary
is 1 fail to see. If it is profitable it must ns-
cessariy detract from the sale Of The Times
1t is a poor and unsub5tantial bolster at
best"
'Do you expect that the trip west will be
of special service to your paper."
cit will at least enable our people at home
to get clearer idea OF your vast country
than it has hitherto DONE That is my rea-
son for coming out here"
Shall We Lose Our Tness
Chicago Inter Ocean.
There is one very unpleasant prospect along
the theatrical line of evolution. 1t is gen
orally accepted opinion that what nature
does not need she gets rid of as rapidly as she
is permitted by the condition of affairs. 1t
is upon this proposition that the advocates of
evolution base their arguments. A learned
geologist assures us that the hoof Of the
horse some few cycles ago was ornamented,
Or rather INSTRUCTED with toes, even while
Mr.. Darwin insisted while breath or pen
served him that man had not SO very long
been without caudal appendage. Accept
ing this view we may feel a sort Of unobtru-
sive gratitude that an opportunity was pro-
vided for getting rid of superhuous tails But