Telegram-herald., 1890-05-18

Gsad aaa baa Bsur-4l-sa4.
specal c..szssszasz.leI
~ HAsaEfscCa Aay s-Is there sach
rhllg 4s lsNspapsr sthlcsl This = .
question H1ach q SERIES of events haFs
1rolg4t - rhs Eaus IA Washington.
FIRST . number n rhs ancient xnd
proper seaaEsrs thought the ne'Espapar
uen had ~ righE ~ se4ld CT accounts
9r the prQceetilgs ~ the senate Ia sz-
sgaaVe session.. and they had 4n inyasti-
gauon ELlch elag a good deal x money
aad resulted Ia a fas Old farce. Then
there came up tho CieYeland-Lana
episode 10 New York. which al rhs
lsVspaper men 4ld gublc men Il 81 ash
llsron lQok tie keene4s sogs ~ ia-efegE
D. Finally. rhs pr=-s gallery ooInmlIr-
t-e, composed lf loaspaper men AID
elected 8y lssV- -paCer men. coueiu1ed %
discipline a yoalg CONES lon1rus who
hal made the ul-s-a1e ct sending ous
brutal dispatch a0ou1 Las habits x IS
dis-n g1isaai srates1an. Perhaps moths
ing wou.t aars been taal gll or sad of
tlis incident hlr for the peculiar clr-
rlmstalcas -urroultils Dc. The scene
was laid 40 the funeral - senator Beck
in rAe senate chamber
According r1 the dispatch the states
man In questlon. who we = member u
tho funeral committee oa the part Of the
house. staggered lr1 tl5 chamber f-l
into q -rar, sz- there ia q dazel conll-
ton. staggered olr ~ ths chamber when
the ceremonies were cCaclulei. fell ia
pas .ng down the steps. -ad fell again &c
f1s railway station ln at-emprLng %
board lhs tram. 4lis would have been
brutal even IL trss. bug lt was false.
~ aIle the committee Ct newspapec men
il charge OF the press gallery 10 not feel
called upon . pass judgment GA the
truth or falsigy Of usWs sent out by gen
t.emen who enjoy Tho privileges OF the
gallery, nor % act As press eousors IN any
sort " way. they have felr it their duty
o. inform tho public that the corps 0f
correspondents. az whom they are the
Official representatives. do not indorse
uew-paper invasion Of private life.
Here va have the BEST u answers %
tho question and conclusive proof that
Journalism l. q distinct profession, IA Is
tho profession Of law or medicine. Il
ought % have Is unwritten code Of
morals and practice. It's members ara
brought into intimate relationship with
individuals daily N connection with
important matters, and often with mat
tr-s os delIcacy az at f-cting reputation
and peac0 og mind The relationship
Which 2 lawyer bears % bis client, or a
doctor O. bis patient. = no more init
mate or important than that which a
journalist besrs % the man whom no IN
tcrvisFs or u whom he whites. II there
ara codes oe ethics for the lawyer and
doctor. thera should De similar codes for
tue journalist The journalist should
1uow ths morals Of his profession. the
amenities II his business. should always
-.el LIs reS1ouslhihty and appreciate the
u.~i.Y % h.s position n the social
f1br- rhere - 5ucn code IN journal
.sra. su unwutten code a. al Laws of
professional etncs must necessarily be.
brs as yet 10 b indefinite and not wei
enough understood
Hers IN Washington, however. where
journalism Is 10 its highest state OF devol-
oumens in America. aad that means III the
world I -n happy TO sly hat the ethics Of
tho profession. this unwr,tceu law. is con
s-trtiy becoming better understood. and
y,ar after year IS better respected. II Is
uot enough th1ta W asAingt0n Journalist
beagartleuan. KS journalists every
where should be-hs must have sense
II honor that is keen and vigilnt. not
simply as q matter oi policy, bat Of TEN
permanent and training The days -
bushwhackiuE journalism. of ''fak8'
journalism of extreme partisan and per
sonal journalism and above all Cf men
iacious journalism. are at an end in
the Capital City. And being a. an end
here means simply that they are rapidly
coming f1 ln end the country over. for
Washington journalism Ia q reflex of the
journalism of the nation. To draws ia
inspiration ard its men from the prov
irces. and needs moreover. constant re-
rewal of the energy that comes from the
rural press and the men that press has
graduated n-0 the wider field
journalism as seen no 81 asaington has
ia ethics. but DO not feel competent TO
teu what that cole of ethics H. Prob
ably no two working newsraper men
would describe it A3Se Bu- there arc
certain cardinal features of Be- Snown to
usau. and of -hese ve may speak. ous
&c these was VIOLATED by the young man
v-ho 3 iust now feeling the discipline Il
bis fellows The private lives ~ men
sa1 women ara taboosd subjects i1 tns
r,vs-r-er practice q the csutaL IF
ttts wara not so. AMI wa al fslt our-
selves licensed as free l1nces. thousands
~ hearts would ache. Probably there q
no place In tha country whore the uri-
-sta Evss ~ weu known persons otfer
zuch shining marks Pr criticism ana sx-
-rvf,, as here can cou1s et a mo-
~,rnts rc-fro st least scors # mem hers
~ rrrrrass who live IN a certain sense
forhls rvsa-rnen who have both wives
snd mistresses.
re- va ware e. eel WHIST va know and
r-sva ft q business to find ru- the things
which wa uow only suspect. plenty of
gray hsa.fs nov held high would 20 hum-
hIeL Evsu women of che fairest fame
would suifer. Luckilv shsse apo not le-
r--iurste subjects ~ newspaper wri--Z.
Tra rross is constantly growing niCrr
irs+ and uaore generous. lt knows how
~ srut RI EYES a. veii A. Ro keep -tsm
cur-. ioubt ~ fn our tiule aac t-er
rrhir man meet -ha fste q poCr Riddle
terg7r. That SENATOR was anything 6u-
i-1n Sari re va 1mpiT trnklng