New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-04
ROUND TO GET THE NEWS

George G. Balm in The Outlook
There is a grave question in the minds OF news
papers publishers Of the honesty of purchasing
news from persons who undoubtedly nave broken
stolen II from those who wished to keep 1t secret
1t is hard to resist the temptation TO putcnase
good piece OF news and the average editor or pup
fisher does not make many inquiries about the
source whence 1t was obtained. AS RUE on'y i'S
Personally. / have to plead guilty to theft OF
this kind under conditions which seem even at TINS
portant political convention held at Syracuse soms
years ago. The proceed'ngs , OF me
Convention had been pretty Wen inappeu Yu IN u,
by the leaders OF the antH movement
and agreed to in conference. Many copies or these
bad been printed and distributed among the mem
hers OF the Committee on Resolutions ana others:
mad very sight persona pS hen asked some Of them
for copy Of these resolutions to De sent supJeot
cIation which l represented. they refused TO give
n 10 me They assured me that no copy was 10 70
t,ons During tie recess OF the convention, when
fine Committee Resolutions was busy IN confer
en,e oepy 'e Of the resolutions and they
in type IN the Office OF S Sne Oh held Ih subject 10
correction and release This information came rom
the office of my association in ew-York l went
ventIon and when / represented the position IN
which was placed he agreed that snoI no n nave
ao sep Of Obtaining copy for me- ne went to the
room where the Committee OIL Resolutions was IN
I could send to him brought satisfactory reply;
I was quite desperate. knowing that the AMENDED
resolutions would be ready for the convention some
time during the afternoon, and that ! would De
held accountable II the newspapers OF the othess
press association had them and the newspapers OF
fhe association ] represented did not. OF course
the resolutions subject 70 release; put men;
N nv rival had his copy in New-fork CITY ana
receiyed one in Syracuse after the convention hsu
acted on them. he had the advantage OF me oy INC
one or two which the teegraphic TRANSMISSION
of the resolutions would require An hour went by
eyery minute bringing the time OF pubncaton
nd cir 10
I was standing at the door OF the committee room
vhen a mana stranger 10 me-came out and start.
ed down the hallway. In his hand was printed
copy OF the resolutions / recognized II, because
| had seen a copy early In the day. some news
paper men stopped him 10 ask some questions over
their shoulders / said. May look at that paper
and taking II from his unresisng hand, / bolted
down the stairs Of the hotel and fairly flew 10 the
telegraph office. The act was not dignhed ana.
according to a strict construction ~ was NOT
wholly honest. But knew that II could explain
TO that man my position he would give me the copy
OF the resolutions At least. l managed to silence
my own conscience with that argument, ana the
conscience OF the press association needed no s'enc-
ing. >. -.
those resolutions and some who had stolen
copy had offered TO sell II 70 me- would NOT nave
bought H. II Is a nice distinction 10 make; ana
IL is not surprising that many men are not apIe 20
resist the temptation to obtain an exclus've peee
Of valuable news from dishonest hands. No man
with the news instinct can say that ne wouid resst
| that temptation until he has been placed IN o
path.