The record-union., 1895-08-24
PRESS And RAILROADS.
Contemplate Course of Certain Daily
Newspapers.
Whettlng the Appetite of Firebrands
With Imaginative Wrongs
and Abuses.
From the San Francisco Wave. |


scription list is its Bible, its guide and
philosopher. Let 500-yes. 200-citiZens,
acting in concert. order their daily paper
stopped, panic will follow in the busi-
ness office, and the editorial expression
of the journal will swerve and take di
rectly opposite course. This is con-
temptible cowardice, but it is the truth
in respect even to newspapers boasting
loudest of their circulation and independ-
ence. Things have come to such a pass,
that messengers are hurried to dissatisfied
subscribers to inquire into the cause of
discomfort. SO as to enable the editor to
trim the opinions Of his journal to meet
the views of rebellious protestants. OF
such stuff are our bold and fearless
molders of public opinion made. With
this understanding firmly fixed in the
public mind, one may better compre-
hend the animus that prompts the policy
OF the press.
Desiring reputation for bravery, they
have pictured in scarlet tones the dan
gers that beset the journalist who attacks
the corporations. And then. with mock
courage and loud-sounding clamOr. they
fall upon the dangerous" creature,
much as a crowd OF shouting boys make
orties on mimic fort. Just now these
precious editors OF ours are bravely as
saulting the street railway companies,
and demanding a reduction of fare from
five to two and a half cents. Adroitly
and cunningly manipulated, movement
as novel as this might result in few
more subscribers. Nothing can be clearer
than the fact that the paper advocating
such course is guided by the highest
and most honorable motives possible TO
conceive. But mark the method Of pro-
cedure. 1t is SO just, so straightforward
and so eminently wise. The officers of
the corporation declare that the road could
not pay conductors and gripmen at the
rate proposed. Only in Europe where
wages are at a minimum are such rates
possible.
But this condition of affairs cuts no
figure with our nick elm the-slot cou-
temporaries. Mark the course they have
pursued! Simon Grunsky, who keeps q
Comeasy, neighbor to Simon, were in
print last week. The greatest daily in
California interviewed them, with a seri-
BUSINESS which might move horse to
laughter, to ascertain whether they
thought the street railway companies
could afford to reduce fares to two and a
half cents. With fine spirit OF unset
ISluOSS OOtu VI tAcSS OISLluS tllS1cOl
tinanciers declared that such a red uction n
would be good thing" Their views
were very decided, and their reasons for
giving any views at all on the subject
were as broad and public spirited as
those of the journal printing the inter-
views. Mr.. Grunsky thought if fares
were reduced people would have more
money to purchase jewelry; and Mr..
Comeasy thought he might catch dollar
~. fx.r0 oft "a " n
Grunsky's rolled cold establishment.
OF course these are cogent, unanswera-
ble arguments why fares should be re-
duced, notwithstanding the fact that such
a rate would not yield enough TO cover
the wages of conductors and gripmen.
Grunsky and Comeasy would have more
money and the people more jewelry and
things; so what matter If wages OF con-
ductors and gripmen go down in conso-
quence.
Let the citizen seriously consider for a
moment the application OF such a con-
temptlble policy as this to his own Dusl-
ness-and the time is fast coming when
the wretched sentiment to which this
kind Of nonsense is catering will not be
satisfied with the daily dish of railroad
roast. Something more will be wanted.
Next it will be the banks and other
wealthy institutions. The spirit OF hatred
and envy that is being bred by this kind
of journalism is the most dangerous senti-
ment that exists In America to-day.
There is a red, lawless hand now threat
ening the peace of this Nation, the re-
sponslbility for which must be credited TO
Just such incendiary writing. There is
being bred in America a dangerous spirit
of dissatisfaction and unrest which con-
Germs every citizen who owns home or
cares a farthing for the welfare of his
country. Our railroad corporations are
not perfect. They make mistakes and
| commit blunders enough, it would seem,
to furnish the press with material for
| their attacks without WhettlDg the appe-
tite of the firebrands and rascals with
imaginative wrongs and abuses. The
worst feature of this most recent out
| break of journalistic pus is that it stands
without warrant In decency, truth or
justice
San Francisco may Justly boast of the
best street railway service in America.
Even Julian Ralph. who found fault
with every mile of rails and ties laid
within the borders of the State, was
! forced to admit this. He declared the
| Mark et-street Railway system to be sex
traordinary and well-nigh perfect" and
mot fairly open to criticism" Such, too,
| is the verdict of every quasi respectable
man in the community. But there is q
spirit abroad in the press to attack cor
| porations. Whether this course increases
the su description list or leads to profitable
silence, one cannot say; but it is abroad.
1t has a nasty, vicious snap to it. 1t is
saturated with spirit OF unfairness. 1t
distorts the truth misrepresnts facts. and
| is so persistent that there must be profit
| in it somewhere. or the field would be
quickly abandonded. Speaking on this
subject, in the New York Recorder last
Sunday, "Howard's Letter" says:
IN othing is odder in the journalism OF
the day than the universal slangwhang.
ing to which corporations are subjected.
| These great factors in the mercantile SUI
premacy of our land are daily criticised
/ in the most offensive manner, and their
managers blackguarded in most out
rageous style, because of their success, by
| men whose sole god is money, whose
single end and aim is wealth, whose
| proudest boast is the extent of their Cir
| culation, and who, while actuated by the
| meanest and lowest motives, seek to pose
in the eyes of their fellow citizens as
conservators of the Commonwealth ano
the independence OF the individual
| citizen
1t does not matter particularly to the
daily press whether the charges be true
or not, SO long as they are sensational
| Take this recent paper sensation relating
| to the transfer system. The daily press
| ia Stdl tliHSs hCdullh0S OS
clared it the intention of the companies
to abandon transfers entirely, and exac
double fare from passengers. There was
not word of truth in tue whole story
Here are the facts: Some time ago it was
discovered that number of newsboys
had been doing a fourishing trade in
stolen transfers. The honorable citizer
was induced to buy a daily paper by re-
ceiving one of these stolen bits of paste
hoard. Their nSA ran m into the thOu.
sands. OF course, the citizens indulgins
in this kind of traffic were as guilty al
the boys; but we have come upon time
when it is no mark of dishonesty to de
fraud q corporation. This steal, anC
some other abuses of an equally annoy.
ing and fraudulent character, led to con
sideration of some means of checking