The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-08
THE LICENSE OF THE PRESS.
Liberties Taken by Many Newspapers
with Purely Private Concerns.
Misuse of the Practice of Neutrality-suspicious.
dalOus Attitude of So-Called HumOrists
Towards Women in Public Position.

L
Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox has followed ND he,
many successes in the field of rhyme by a vent
ure into the domain of prose, having written {
novel entitled ''Mal Moulee," which lie on the
point of being issued by g. w. Carleton & Co.
New York. In this work Mrs Wilcox gives he,
views on many important questions, and in one
chapter treats the subject of license of the press
as follows:
'Ir is question" said Percy, (which must
oetore many years, be oecided-just where the
freedom of the press should end, and where the
nights OF individuals should begin 1t seems to
me that even our so-called best newspapers
take unnecessary and unlicensed liberties in
these days"
But the public appetite demands such varied
and highly spiced diet that obliged to
crafty it in every legitimate manner possible
II we do not our rival sheets will" explained
Homer Orton, an American journalist.
THAT is all very well when you keep to legit-
innate means. But 1 call the invasion of homes.
and the cruel and often untruthful assertions
concerning the private life of unoffendlng indi-
vldnals, lllegltimate means of feeding depraved
appetite. The average newspaper humorist
who utterly disregards the truth in his anxiety
to concoct taking item, do not consider a nee
essary feature of high journalism-do you9 If
ne only succeeds in raising laugh, he considers
his object in life attained. He reminds me Of
the tribe of the Damaras, who are described as
SO utterly heartless that they roar with laughter
on beholding one of their number torn to pieces
by wild beast"
"Still, it is not so much heartlessness as insen-
sibility and thoughtlessness and desire to be
bright and witty which causes a good many of
these things to be written" Homer responded.
- heard that every excuse advanced only the
other day" Percy replied, land l heard this re-
spouse made, which is quite apropos now: 1t
has been observed by thoughtful naturalists that
often, when lion or bull kills man. the poor
beast really has no malice in his heart, and does
not mean any harm. He only intended to play
with his accidental comrade of the moment
But then a lion has only claws and bull only
horns with which to make their humor felt, and
80 they are fatally misunderstood 1t would
seem to me, then, that the chief of large news
paper ought to consider himself as responsible
for those accidents as the keeper of menag-
erie"
But often the chief of irst-class newspaper
has no idea of the really scurrilous items which
creep into his paper" explained Homer. Like
the chief cook in large hotel, he cannot taste
of every dish prepared by his subordinates; and
no managing editor could survive the strain,
YOU know, of looking over his humorists column
every day. Our madhouses would overflow if
such method of journalism were inaugurated.'
"Still, it is a lax system which permits such
errors 1T we can call them errors), to occur"
Percy insisted; land, if guests were constantly
being poisoned or rendered i'll through the crimi
nal carelessness of the hotel cook fancy he would
be called to account for not knowing what dishes
his subordinates prepared. newspaper should
De the friend and companion of the people, and
welcome guest in every home. Instead it is too
often treacherous spy, maligner and falsifer.
Almost every day we read statements concern
ing people which are absolutely without founda-
tion. and which result in no end of mischief and
trouble"
You, no doubt, refer to people in public life
politicians authors actors, and the like-do
you notP asked Homer II know they are con-
sidered targets for the shots of our humorists all
over the country; but then you must remember
that If man gives his name voluntarily to the
world and forces his work or personality upon
the public he cannot expect both the benefits of
fame and the seclusion of private life. 1t is I'M
reasonable. He has, in measure, eivera him
self over to the public. and he must take the
busy newspapers of the present day give time
and space to discussion or comments upon any
individual ought to be considered highly COM
plmentary."
THAT depends entirely upon the nature of the
comments, answered Percy. "Nor do l refer
entirely to public people. Our wealthy men,
and their wives and daughters are subjected to
the same coarse comments. Their personal
defects are ridicued, and the pitless and CHASTITY
electric light Of publicity is turned on
devoid of truth and wit appear every day con-
eerning people who have committed no offense
greater than to succeed in some special calling.
They are copied, enlarged upon, and believed by
q majority of the masses. 1t is a degenerate
system of journalism which permits it 1t is
high time some manly journalist began crusade
against it."
81 agree with you perfectly" Homer OrSon
answered. II would like to have the leading
newspapers of the country band together to pro-
tect the people from insult and petty libels in
their columns; and would like to see the i'm
aginary interviewer done away with by every
respectable journal"
What is the imaginary interviewer, pray7"
queried the Englishman.
He Is reporter who, if he is refused admit
lance by any person he wishes to interview, de-
hberately inveDts an Observation-Disclosures the
personality and manufactures the conversation
to suit his own taste. No one was ever more
misused in this respect than your own Oscar
Wilde, unless it was Mrs Langtry. The most
astounding postures and inane remarks were at
tributed 30 them by people who never saw them
1t is not, however, our firstclass journals which
have permitted this"
Would you not recommend the abolis hing of
the interviewer entrelyp suggested Percy
Certainly not" Homer responded. 1.-The
newspaper interviewer is a benefit to the press
to the country, and to all public people who have
name and a reputation to make. That is, when
he Is a truthful gentleman, and does not abuse
the hospitality of those who admit him to their
homes The schoolgirl who sends for the auto
graph of public man pays him a graceful COM
pliment, and he should write it for her without
q murmur. just in the same way, the whole
public offers quiet tribute to the man of repu-
tation when an interviewer presents his card
The newspaper would never ask for an inter
view to publish unless the masses of its read
ers desired it. And the interviewer should be
met eourteously, and the public man should
realize that this sort of thing is the duty he
pays on fame. If he has positively nothing of
interest to say to the interviewer is too busily
engaged to be interrupted, he should tell the
caller SO in a respectful and polite manner MANY
pubic man is badly treated by the reporter in
PRINT because he treated the reporter badly in
his house."
but what have you to say of the interviewer
who is we'll treated, and then repavs the hosn;
taity he has received by an article bristline with
ridicuie and untruthful misrepresentation of the
personality or conversation of his entertainment
have known this to occur"
Ii. -