The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-04

frankly, as is his wont. he criticised
men of his own party in his characters
tic savage fashion 2nd. wiShout reserve.
He made no request that this converse
ton be considered e private one-he in
stinctively knew that it was private and
would not be printed or REPEATED.
could have created mild sort Of sensa-
ton by reporting what the speaker said,
but of course did not. This brings Us
to another phase of modern newspaper
ethics. A man must know that he is
being interviewed for publication The
gentleman of the modern press does not
get his interviews clandestinely.
All conversations not understood from
the circumstances or by express agree
ment to be for type are 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 andswhat was
not. That was the bone of contention in
the Cleveland article in New York city.
1t is often the bone Of contention in less
celebrated cases. am proud to say for
the correspondents Of Washington that
the public men here find little cause of
complaint in this regard. The political
journalist, as a 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 tabooed. The
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 are of the old
days. The good senators thought the
Washington correspondents must have
some such means Of securing executive
session secrets, but they were egregious-
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
if the man does not watch out.
This matter of newspaper ethics is
sometimes very intricate and difficult to
understand. Thepubic may not be able
to understand why journalist, who
would condemn listening at the key hole
of committee room door, could hire an
employee Of the government printing Of
flee to steal copy Of the presidents
message for him, but 1 can understand
that, though am not going to try to ex-
plain it. l would not listen at O key
hole, but would bribe printer to steal
q 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 the Mckinley
tariff bill found its way prematurely to
the press.
A Pacific coast correspondent borrowed
the copy Of a member of the ways and
means committee to write paragraph
from, and copied the whole bill with a
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 CT 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
a dozen more copies of the bill sent to
his house at o'clock that evening.
When the messenger arrived at Mr..
Mills residence with the package Of
bills one of the conspirators was TO be in
hiding near the door. He was to have a
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 a fine opportunity to do business. The
man in waiting was to rush up just as
the messenger left, ring the bell again,
and when the 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 exclaiIn:
AZ have left you the wrong package
This is :he one that belongs to Mr.. Mills"
and grabbing the bundle from the ser.
wants hands beat hasty retreat, as if
trying to overtake the wagon, which by
this time would be rolling down the
street. in tee package which the 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,
be had not expected any copies Of the
tariff bill and would not be suspicious Of
Iuckery. Tie printing Office would be
that it had done its duty, and
next morning two enterprisirg journals
would contain the Mills tariff bill in full,
by their agile correspond
snts.
The scheme did not work, for the
simple reason that the printing Office
>ould not print the bills. and hence-could
lot deliver them into the hands Of the
servant girl 1t was
1retty plan, and / an sorry II did not
work, for it was good journalism. The
Tue journalist VIII not look IN another
mans desk for the biggest piece Of news
n the world. any more than military
viii violate flag Of truce,
out your good Journalist vii lead his
.nemy into ambush when he can.
WALTER WELLMAS.
Two 1oTmous bouquets were recently
cent from Langres 10 the Princess Mar /
yuerite and her fance, the Due dOrleans, /
who Is still detained IN the ClairvsuI pris- !
IN That Of the princess, which had been I