The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-09-21


San Bernardino.
THE Antioch Ledger concurs with the
Tulare Register in an outcry against the
'cackle" OF newspapers over each others
freshlaid eggs. According to the Ledger
and it's conourring colleague. the notices
of new volumes, swapping" compli-
ments over special journalistic work,
commentator of notably fine sditionC,
and the like. is all wrong, provincial,
perfunctory taffy and humbug and
should cease. Indeed these papers. we
| are led to believe, would put stop to all
plimentsry remark of the character
indicated, since they tip-tilt their noses
loftily at the idea of any sincerity in the
complimentary mention of one paper by
another. All which sounds we'll enough,
and at first blush would seem to in
dictate that our contemporaries believe
that they have got upon an upper
level, notch higher than most
altstion lessons Of dignity and wisdom
on this particular subject. But they are
wrong. Commentator is lubricant; it
costs nothing and it is a wonderful
helper. The employer who commends
his employe for deserving does not lower
himself by so doing-he does what it is
| the duty Of all TO do in all conditions Of
| life; he praises where praise is deserved.
and in doing SO it does not follow that he
lines of friction between newspapers are
thick enough, no matter how kindly
journals may feel towards one another.
There is contention enough, heaven
knows, in all the walks of life. When
opportunity offers, therefore, for one
newspaper to lift its hat to another, why
not? What harm Is done by expressing
an honest opinion Of your contemporary !?
No one thinks of saying to men, Com
pliment. commend, praise, approve
no one" On the contrary, the news
paper is every day commencing some
man or some woman, or speaking
words of praise and encouragement for
some human effort. Why should it be
beneath it then to breathe compliment
to one Of its own occasionally? If it
| Ledger, by the spirit that moves it, it's
devotion to local interests, and it's loyalty
to the purpose of its being, should work
out some great good in Contra Costa
/ County, and demonstrate it in an edition
! devoted to that end, why should not the
| ack Acknowledgement of its fellows in the
! journalistic field be made, forsooth? II
the Ledger Is insensible to softer influ-
ences we are greatly mistaken. On the
contrary, we are prone to believe that it
is talking now to hear itself, with the idea
that in concurring with the snarl of the
Reqister it is condemning an evil, when
in fact it simply harshly critioises that
which is wholly harmless. Taffy and soft
soap, hollow compliment and insincerity,
are at all times, under all conditions de-
spicable, in or out of journalism. But
| there is no more reason why newspapers
should not say pleasant. truthful and
sincere things of one another than that
men and women should not speak COM
pliments or exchange congratulations. 1t
| is not true that readers despise these COM
plimentary bits. We have never had any
reason TO believe that readers disspprove
of them when they commend some not
able journalistic accomplishment on the
/ part OF contemporaries. In the name of
goodness let the press speak kindly when
it can of its fellows, even of their passing
birthday. since the greater portion of its
time it is more engaged in wrestlings that
neither improve the relations between
the newspapers, nor tend to cement In
fraternal accord the brotherhood of the
| Fourth Estate.