Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-05-17


being interviewed for publication. The |
eeptleIlaan Of the modern press does not !
get his interviews clandestinely.
AL conversations not understood from
the circumstances or by express agree
ment to be for type arc private. 1t is in
applying this rule that one OF the chief
sources Of trouble arises. The newspaper
man Is often puzzled to know what was
intended for publication and what was
not. That was the bone Of contention In
tho Cleveland article in New York city.
Il is often the bone Of contention in less
celebrated cases. am proud to say for
the correspondents Of Washington that
the public men hero find little cause OF
complaint in this regard. The political
journalist, as n rule, not only respects
confidence and is intrinsically honorable,
but he exercises fine discretion in win
moving the proper and printable from
the private.
Eavesdropping Is also taboocd. Tho
self respecting journalist Of these times
will not hide himself away in closets, or
glue his ear to keyholes. Rare stories
are told Of the manner In which big
news has been obtained by these means.
but most Of these tales arc Of the old
days. Tho good senators thought the
Washington correspondents must have
some such means Of securing executive
session secrets, but they were cgrcgious-
ly mistaken. The modern journalist will
not eavesdrop, but he will deceive. He
will not open another mans letter, but
he will play trick upon the other man
IL the man does not watch out.
This matter Of newspaper ethics Is
sometimes very intricate and difficult to
understand. The public may not be able
to understand why journalist, who
would condemn listening at the key hole
Of committee room door, could hire an
employe of the government printing Of
flee TO steal a copy of the presidents
message for him, but I can understand
that, though am not going to try to cx-
plain it. I would not listen at q key
hole, but I would bribe printer to steal
message for me, providing the message
was worth it and the printer did not come
too high. Journalists have gone out Of
the business of stealing presidents mes
sages, but they are still eager for tariff
bills. The public is already familiar
with the manner in which tho Mckinley
tariff bill found its way prematurely to
the press.
APacific coast correspondent borrowed
the copy of a member Of the ways and
means committee to write paragraph
from, and copied the whole bill with
force of six typewriters. That, in my
my Judgment, was fair journalism. So
was the scheme set up by a couple of
bright correspondents TO get an advance
copy of the Mills tariff bill when the
public mind was filed with curiosity
concerning that measure. They knew
Mr. Mills had copy of the bill from the
printing office, and that therefore the
bill was in type. Their plan was to tele-
phone the foreman of the printing Office
about o'clock in the afternoon by the
Capitol telephone that Mr.. Mills wanted
dozen more copies Of the bill sent to
his house at o'clock that evening.
When the messenger arrived at Mr.
Mills residence with tho package Of
bills one of the conspirators was to be in
hiding near the door. He was to have
small package in his hand. The con-
spirators thought that when the mes
senger rang the door bell and the servant
came and opened the door there would
be fine opportunity to do business. The
man in waiting was to rush up just as
the messenger left, ring the bell again,
and when tho servant came to the door
the second time, no doubt with the pack
age in her hand, the conspirator was to
hold out his little package and exclaim:
II have left you tho wrong package.
This is the one that belongs to Mr.. Mills"
and grabbing the bundle from the SER
wants hands beat hasty retreat, as II
trying to overtake tho wagon, which by
this time would be rolling down the
street. In the package which tho con-
spirator was to leave in exchange for the
more precious one was to be some bills
and reports, which Mr.. Mills, even If he
were in the house and looked them over,
would not be suspicious Of, as, Of course,
he had not expected any copies OF the
tariff bill aud would not be suspicious Of
trickery. The printing Office would be
satisfied that it had done its duty, and
next morning two enterprising journals
would contain tho Mills tariff bill in full,
telegraphed by their agile correspond
ents.
Tho scheme did not work, for the
simple reason that tho printing Office
could not print the bills, and hence could
not deliver them into the hands OF the
unsuspecting servant girl. 1t was q
pretty plan, and am sorry 1t did not
work, for it was good journalism. The
true journalist will not look in another
mans desk for the biggest piece of news
in the world, any more than military
commander will violate flag Of truce,
but your good journalist will lead his
enemy into ambush when he can.
WALTER WELLMAN.