The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-07-24
BoIstering Up n Humbug.

IhlchBO Herald, July III.
writer in the Current, himself an employe
OF the Associated Press, undertakes to describe
some OF tho workings OF that institution.
Nearly all OF his assertions concerning 1t are
false, and everything that he has to say In re-
lation TO Its competitors is mendacious In tho
extreme. The Herald marvels that journal
giving 80 many evidences OF careful editorial
control as tho Current should have admitted to
its pages an article which was written TO mis-
represent and not to enlighten.
The author In question assumes that tho AS
ISOLATED Press Is mysterious but gigantic
preciate, and then goes on to say that 1t Is
sleepless, untlring and unmindfui OF expense
in the collection and distribution OF news;
that II is Judiclally fair and mover partisan;
that II has no connection whatever with the
telegraphic monopoly; that 1t has no rivals
worthy OF the name; that Its general agent
has achieved his present position by reason OF
his extraordinary ability in collecting and dis.
seminating Information, and that the associa-
tion has become prime necessity In every
great newspaper oi1lce.
Not one OF these assertions is true. The As.
sociated Press is neither an enterprising nor
satisfactory newsgather. II is, and has been
for years, grossly partisan In all political mat
ters, and Its dimlnutive general agent has had
no higher aspiration In life than by gross sub.
serviency TO win the favor OF a few men of
whom he stood In awe or from whom he OK.
pected favors. He has had oflicial reward for
his malignant partisanship, and he holds his
position to. day by reason OF his Willingness
10 do tho dirty work OF his masters. II Is true
that the Associated Press has no immediate
connection with the Western Union Telegraph
Company, but It 10 dominated and used by Jay
Gould the same as the Western Union is, and
In more than one stock.jobbing operation 1t
has been his efficient tool. The fact that II
has rival worthy OF the name is shown by
the facility with which the Herald, which is
not n member and would not be n member,
publishes news In advance Of the papers
which depend upon 1t for Information. The
Press recently, by means OF a disgraceful sub
terfuge, invoked the aid OF Congress to de-
Btroy. Its report is freeher and better than
any that William Henry Smith ever made up,
and IL 10 never marred, as is his, with the big
otry OF political tool or the poorly concealed
Inventions OF stock. 1obber's catspaw.
Instead OF being primo necessity In every
great newspaper ofice the Associated Press
has become a mere incidental In the publica.
tion OF u 1irstclass journal. No newspaper OF
commanding influence and circulation do.
| pends upon 1t in the slightest degree, aud
| dozens OF tho journals which receive the re
| port have denounced 1t and Smith In terms
| more bitter than any which the Herald cares &c
employ In dealing with an institution and 0
| parsonage OF such utter insignihcance.
There is nothing mysterious or wonderful
| about the Associated Press, as the CarreR
writer would have us believe. 1t is a news
agency turned over by neglect and careless
/ ness on the part OF tho publishers most inter
vaesals. Its legitimate duties, II faithfully
| performed, would be simple In the extreme
| Its subserviency TO Gould and the offlce hold
| ing class is 80 apparent, that oven the people
| who sustain II expect nothing else. II is Q
| humbug presided over by humbug, ana al
| the articles which Its paid agents may write
| cannot change the fact.