The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-08
Dead-Heading on the Press.

EpTroR CLARION: There is an article
going the rounds of the newspapers,
.tvled, Dead Heading on the Press,
which if true, is the most damaging
criticism of the newspaper press OF the
present day that was ever penned. Here
are some of the items which are stated
as facts by this very remarkable article,
as follows:
l. 'Instead of being dead heads, news
papers are the victims of dead-beats.'
, The pulpit, the bar, the drama,
religious and charitable societies, finan
cial and industrial corporations, every
body who is anything, or expects TO be
ANYTHING, isa leech upon the llberahty
of ;he Press.
3. "A weak and doubtful enterprise
is sought to be established, and the Press
is called upoA to give 1T strength and
encouragement
4. a preacher wants free putting to
make his services go down with the
peope. and civilian asks the press to
make him popular.
3. "An actor becomes the editor ;
mortal enemy il the man of Fabius does
not bestow upon him dollars, and dol
lars of free Advertising
Is "'The dull author expects the press
Go saw he IS live and entertaining
Z 'The quack thinks it is the news
papers duty to tell the world that he Is
honorable and skilled"
: The editor is the one to whom
fools look to give them talents.
9. Thieves, to give them honor.
TO- "Knaves, to give them respect
ability.
II. The guilty, to give them the
cloak of innocence.
IL. Frauds, to hide their roguery.
Is. "And swindlers, to cover up thelE
cheating" ;,
a. "The vain expect to be e%toiied
Coy the press rs thing to be imposed
on at will, thing from which every
one is in duty bound to get all he car
and return as little as possible.
Then towards the close OF this extraor
dinary article, the writer OF it remarks
at is about time this sort of thlIg wa'
stopped. and for the people to under
stand that the newspaper Is not deaa
head but the chief victim OF dead
beats"
Itisy very certainly true, that it IS abou
time .his thing was stopped, II thes
alleged facts be as above stated; tor
more criminal indictment was neve
before preferred against the newspape
press, Gentlemen of the public press Q
the country. this i a matter that ough
"a he esplained. II it is not urue, yoI
ought TO deny it, II it - true to an.
ceas derable extent, why DO you. or an.
Of vau do as here chargedI Why d.
Won allow yourselves to be the victim
Of deaI-l,eats? Have you neither com
mon sense, nor moral princlpleE l.
proying. however, that you are ne
dead d-heads,n has it not occurred I
Won that by this remarkable line Q
s,rgament, YOU may be proving that 70
are something infinitely worse! II
vou forget that you are TO great exten
the leaders of public opinion, ana as
consequences of public and prlvat
morals? Where are you going 10 lea
as. your poor unsopnisucated readeI
10. when YOU give us TO understan
that YOU are constantly expected I
wh;tewash the characters OF quaek
and fools, and knaves, and tnleve
and To blow the trumpets OF such
host of dead beats, and all this ie
nothing? Why ARE you expected
ana 80 constantly solicited, to do a
this9 Why should yen be looked to fC
this If it is never done2 Ii people e.
pect Won 10 pat them for nothing, wh
do YOU do il? Have you no will OF yot
own. or no Judgment If, however yol
do this for gam of aay sort, sou ongs
not 70 complain As though yon did
for nothing. :.
VI any OF you say: "Shake not Il
-, LOCKS AT me: thou canst not say
a;d;t, ;. and that there are diseased sie'
,a I, livery "a neck, then the article Is Z
sweeping, an1 . false accusation again
sns Whole newspaper fraternity;
'hs Who will saw that putting the vai
cd aftributing brains - the bralnle'
honestv n 70 thieves, skill to suacks, et
nnaSf % 10 be paid for, nnless the the;I Al
atsyv oay@I ~ and all manner of idlens
ana rascality. are Of the nature of leg
innate ina business7 The remedy Tor all u
Is yery simple: don't do What you :
.o'' s aye expected to do, and there m
be dead beats will cease to expsef u
you. A. nant;f
ed i well worthy Of the earnest aftt
ton Of any Convention of the news
per press. Falsifying in any case y Da
very bad, and it is but little lmpro'
ment 70 do It for nothing. Always :
the truth and charge falr pr1ce
your work Charge Chester, charge
a READER