The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-25
POWER OF THE PRESS.
HOW 1T is RECOGNIZED BY WASH
INGTcN'S PUBLIC MEN.
The Days of the Administration Organ
Have Gone-NearEy Every Statesman
Has His Special Journalistic Friend.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondencel
WASHINGTON, Feb. The newspaper
press is great and powerful institution al
the national capital. There are few public
men so great or SO prosperous that they
| can afford to ignore its friendly aid or BIZ
Indifferent to its criticism. Even presi
dents seek to win favor in the eyes of the
| modern Argus, which sees all things and
! has all mems fame and popularity safe in
the grasp of its metal fingers. In the old
| days it was quite the thing for an admins
| tration to have its organ at the national
| capital to lie for it, to praise it, to abuse
| enemies for it. These organs were general
| ly maintained by means of the public
printing, just as the county commissioners
in some western county may support a
friendly weekly by means of the tax list
and other official advertising. Such an
organ was the old National Intelligencer
and such were many other papers found
ed, or at least started, after it. But of late
years the business of maintaining friend
ly newspaper at the capital has not been in
vogue 1t was found that it did not pay
paper at the capital has very little in
fiuence upon public sentiment Sin the
provinces" as they say abroad. The great
newspapers printed at the commercial
centers, and the even more powerful local
press, which in measure draws it's in
SEPARATION from the city journals, are the
real arblters OF power-the leaders and
molders of public opinion. It follows,
therefore, that the agencies which admin
lstrations and ambitious public men cult
vate are the Washington correspondents of
the big papers. These are the men who
make and unmake presidents, who tear
down or build up senators and who re-
elect or defeat representatives in Congress-
Nowadays the fashion is for public men to
have, not an organ, in the old sense, but
intimate relationship with one or more cor
respondents. The relationship is, of course
like all enduring relationships in this self
ish world, one of mutual advantage 1t is
a good thing for the statesman and good
thing for the correspondent
When Gen. Grant came to Washington
to be president he picked out as his news
paper friend Mr.. Deb Randolph Keim. an
old army correspondent. If Grant had
news or opinions or Inspirations to give to
the newspapers Keim was sent for. Before
Grant, Andrew johnson had his newspaper
friend i'll the person of DR.. Warden, one of
the old time correspondents, who died
few weeks ago full of years and honors.
After Grant the custom was kept up by
other presidents. Hayes and Garfield
looked to Gen. Boynton, of The Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette. still one of the most
prominent and popular Of the Washington
writers, as he is one Of the ablest and old
est. Cleveland depended upon Dan La
mont, himself an old newspaper man.
and Daniel knew his business and attended
TO 1t so faithfully that now he is in a fair
way to become millionaire. Lamont was
very free in talking with correspondents |
who would treat him and the president |
we'll, and he used often to come down on |
Newspaper Row to give his friends a tip. |
Lamont was of positive benefit TO MS chief |
N the way of averting misrepresentation |
and in toning down criticism
President Harrison has no newspaper
mouthpiece at the capital Private Secre-
AIRY Halford is an old newspaper man. and
has the respect of all the corps, but he is
lot communicative, and is of SO little bene-
it TO the writers that the great majority
If them never go to the White House I'm
eSS errandS of necessity take them there.
Nr. Halford is always courteous, and even
genial, but he gives no news, and does not
wen let little tips run off the end of his
ongue-an art in which Lamont eycelled
I'll private secretaries ever seen in the ex-
'cutive mansion. Col. Perry Heath. an
llert correspondent, formerly of Indianap-
Ills, and personal friend of the president.
vas expected to be mouthpiece of the ad-
in certain ways and on GER
ain occasions, but it has not turned out to
,e so.
Conkling and Blaine were two great pub
ic men who made It a rule to maintain
riendly relations with certain newspaper
men. Oddly enough, the newspaper writer
mo was nearest Conkling's confidence is
he same man who is now nearest Blaine's.
'ince the death of his son Walker Mr..
Elaine has leaned much upon William E.
,urtls, well known newspaper writer,
7ho, as special agent of the state depart
nent, managed the Pan-American tour.
lr. Blaine has had other close newspaper
riends, among them Mr. T. C. Crawford,
tho Is now writing letters to two or three |
metropolitan journals. To all other news
aper men Mr.. Blaine denies himself ex-
ept on rare occasions
Ihe late Secretary Window had true
ppreciation of newspaper men and the
est method of dealing with them. His
cor was always open to representatives
l the press and ne treated them all alike.
he mad news TO give out-and he Cener-
i!y haG, Tor he was inclined TO construe
berally the laws of propriety respecting
OF Official matters-anv one
hat asked could have it In the matter of
ltervlews and opinions be was equally
IMPARTIAL and maintained no favoritism.
n instance OF this was had but few
eekS before his death. A correspondent
HON he had never known went TO his
ouse one night, engaged him in converse
on on the financial situation and the
rohable action OF the treasury with ref
'ence thereto and went away with a col
mn interview which attracted attention !
D over the country.
Postmaster General Wanamaker Is an I
her good friend Of the newspaper corps.
e Is approachsble and talkative if he 1
lances to have anything to say, or if the '
-oprieties of the occasion will permit him .
talk. II he can't talk he will very :!
anklv and promptly say so. The best '
lbllc man seen in Washington in many A
y, from newspaper standpoint, was Mr. :
lawmakers late first assistant, Mr. :
larkson. He was not only q ready aud :
lent talker, bat man OF courageous
etaods, never afraid ne was going 10 be
ltlclSed for saving word too much, and
sides as an old newspaper man. he knew
Nat was news and what was not, what A