The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-17
The INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL p0NDAY, MARCH II, 1895

was shed and heads broken they could
only assume that it was. at least. a
bloody row. even If less CORY than de-
scribed. AS a matter of fact. no pistols
were seen, much less fired; not a drop of
blood was shed, even by the redoubtable
custodian: not an eye was BACKED; only
two or three legislators had any active
part in the affair. and the Governors
un1ucky secretary would have escaped
with sound ribs had he not fallen into
a crowd composed of spittoon cleaners
who were in and spittoon cleaners
who were "out" and wanted to get in.
1t was an ~undigniied scrap but it
was not the wage fight the magma
tive correspondents pictured it.
But although such distorted and I'M
truthful tales are written and printed.
the Journal is still of opinion that the
demand for accuracy in news reports is
growing, and that presently this desire
on the part of publishers and public
will be felt and respected even by press
associations and special correspondents.
Another feature of the modern ENTER
prising' paper which is slowly falling
into disrepute is that of illustration.
The papers which use it are limiting it's
scope. In fact, many now confine their
picture department to the pages upon
which Syndicate" matter is printed.
the pictures as well as the reading be-
ing furnished by the accommodating pu-
reaus. The Journal tested this matter
of Illustration, and after a few months
trial abandoned the experiment. being
onnuinGa6 that nhofayor tho roodorc nf
other papers might need, it's readers re-
quired no diagrams to explain the text.
If a building burned, for example, or a
train ran off the track. their magma
lions were sufficiently powerful to grasp
the idea in each case without the aid
of a drawing such as a child might
make on its slate. Dr. if a well-known
citizen was elected to Office, or died. or
otherwise distinguished himself, it
seemed to d nothing to his Importance
to print, as all fast presses must print.
a blurred portrait Of him thai looked
like another man.
The fake coupon system is another
excrescence of the "enterprising'' press
which has been gotten rid of for the
most part, even by those that but a
S1OTt t4Iue ago Illl6Q lGolF pages III us
praise. Plenty of fake additions to le-
ultimate Journalism still remain; great"
New York and Chicago papers still en-
gage in the chrome business; some of
them are sending out fashion plates as
inducements to subscribers, and some
favor paper-doll supplements. The Chi
cago Tribune, which ought to be
ashamed of itself, is encouraging chill
dren to gossip and tattle by offering
prizes for neighborhood news that they
may send in. These and other special
attractions are still offered, but there is
discernible a he lf-heartedness in pre-
senting them that promises well for their
early abandonment.
Hawthorne lays: ut is the age itself
that writes newspapers, y = 8 which
therefore have a distinct purpose and
meaning at the time, and a kin of in
~telligible truth for all times If we
are to be known to posterity by our
too many of them are be-
traying unpleasant characteristics now,
and the sooner they are improved the
hatfar