The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-04
JOURNALISTIC ETHICS.
WALTER WELLMAN WRITES OF THE
CODE OF THE PROFESSION.
It Is Cnwrittsn. but Every Self Respect
ing Experienced Newspaper Man Knows
It and Follows Tt-Seme Instances of
Good ard Bad Journalism.
special Corresnondence.l

Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, May lbs there such
thing as newspaper ethics? This is a
question which q series Of events have
brought to the front IN Washington.
First, number Of the ancient and
proper senator's thought the newspaper
men had 10 right to send out accounts
of the proceedings Of the senate in ex-
ecutive session, and they had an investi-
cation which cost good deal Of money
and resulted in fine old farce. Then
there came up the Cleveland-Dana
episode in New York, which all the
newspaper men and public men Of Wash
ington took the keenest sort Of interest
in. Finally, the press gallery commit
tee, composed of newspaper men and
elected by newspaper men, concluded to
discipline a young correspondent who
had made the mistake Of sending out
brutal dispatch about the habits of
distinguished statesman. Perhaps moth
ing would have been thought or said Of
this incident but for the peculiar cir
cumstances surrounding it. The scene
was laid at the funeral Of Senator Beck
in the senate chamber.
According to the dispatch the states
man in question, who was member of
the funeral committee on the part of the
house, staggered into the chamber, fell
into a seat, sat there il dazed condi-
ton, staggered out of the chamber when
the ceremonies were concluded, fell in
passing down the steps, and fell again at
the railway station in attempting to
brutal even if true, but it was false.
While the committee of newspaper men
in charge Of the press gallery do not feel
called upon to pass judgment On the
truth or falsity of news sent out by gen.
tlemen who enjoy the privileges of the
gallery, nor to act as press censors in any
sort Of way, they have felt it their duty
to inform the public that the corps of
correspondents, Of whom they are the
official representatives, do not indorse
newspaper invasion of private life
Here we have the best Of answers to
the question and conclusive proof that
there is such thing as newspaper ethics.
Journalism is distinct profession, as is
the profession of law or medicine. 1t
ought to have its unwritten code of
morals and practice. Its members are
brought into intimate relationship with
individuals daily in connection with
important matters, and often with mat
ters of delicaoy as affecting reputation
and peace of mind. The relationship
which a lawyer bears to his client, or a
doctor to his patient, is no moro init
mate or important than that which a
journalist bears to the man whom he in
teryiews or Of whom he writes. If there
are codes Of ethics for the lawyer and
doctor, there should be similar codes for
the journalist. The journalist should
know the morals Of his profession, the
amenities Of his business, should always
feel his responsibility and appreciate the
dignity Of his position in the social
fabric. There is such q code in journal
ism, an unwritten code as all laws of
professional ethics must necessarily be,
but as yet it is indefinite and not well
enough understood.
Here in Washington, however, where
journalism is at its highest state OF devel-
Opment in America, and that means in the
world, lam happy to say that the ethics Of
the profession, this unwritten law, is con-
stantly becoming better understood, and
year after year IS better respected. 1t is
not enough that Washington journalist
must be agentlcman, as journalists every
where should be-he must nave q sense
Of honor that is keen and yigilant, not
simply as a matter Of policy, but of tenn
permanent and training. The days Of
bushwhacking journalism. of flake"
journalism, Of extreme partisan and per-
sonal journalism, and above all Of men !
dacious journalism, are at an end in /
the Capital City. And being at an end
here means simply that they are rapidly
coming TO an end the country over, for !
Washington journalism IS a reflex of the !
journalism of the nation. 1t draws its
inspiration ard its men from the prov
inces, and needs, moreover, constant re-
newal Of the energythat comes from the |.
rural press and the men that press has
graduated into the wider field.
Journalism as seen at Washington has .
It's ethics, but I do not feel competent to /
tell what that code of ethics is. Prob |
ably no two working newspaper men /
would describe it alike. But there are /
certain cardinal features Of it known to /
Us all, and of these we may speak. One /
Of these was violated by the young man .
who Is just now feeling the discipline Of |
his fellows. The private lives Of men
and women are tabOoed subjects in the /
newspaper practice of the capital If /
this were not SO. and we al felt our
selves licensed as free lances, thousands
Of hearts would ache. Probably there is /
no place in the country where the pri-
vate lives of well known persons offer
such shining marks for criticism and ex-
position 81 here. / can count at mo-
meut' 8 notice at least a score Of members
Of congress who live IL a certain sense
double Gves-men VINO have both wives
and mistresSss.
If we were TO tell what we know and
make 1t business TO find out the things
which we now Only suspect. plenty Of
gray heads now held high would be hum
5led. Even women OF the fairest fame
would suffer. Luckily these are not le-
Ultimate subjects Of newspaper writing.
The press Is constantly growing more
Just and more generous 1t knows how
to shut its eyes as well as TO keep them
open. l doubt If IN our tine another
public man meet the fate Of poor Riddle
berger That senator was anything but