Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-10-28
LEADER OF JOURNALISM.
Upright Character of James Gordon
Bennett In the Newspaper World.

Upright Character of James Gordon
Bennett In the Newspaper World.
The character Of James Gordon Ben
nett ms a leader OF journalism is admir-
ably summed up in an interesting ar
ticle by James Creelman. As an edit
or, says the writer, Mr.. Bennett is i'm
patient OF political control or partner
ship. He scents danger in every APP
proach, and be will deliberately attack
party to prove that he is not under
Its influence According TO him, an
editor should be a man in a watch
tower, out Of sound and out Of reach.
Otherwise there would be conspiracy
and compromise. Private promises
are to be broken in the public interest
Friendships are to be regarded as traps
for the editorial conscience. So Mr..
Bennett is a lonely man In a crowd,
hermit In the midst of busting life.
can tell one story that illustrates the
magnificent perversity and shrewish-
ness that have preserved the Herald as
a historic example OF incorruptible
journalism. When Gen. Crespo under
took to overthrow the rotten and tyran-
nical government of President PalacIo,
he had thirty badly armed venezue-
lans to follow him. The revolution was
sanctioned by the people, but they were
afraid, at first, to join Crespos stand
ard. Gradually, however, he gathered
together a small army, and advanced
upon the government forces. Palacio
and his friends had looted the treasury,
money was needed to crush the revolt,
and sum great enough for the pur-
poses could only be had in Europe.
About this time an old friend Of Mr..
Bennett called upoR him In Paris, and
explained that the Venezuelan govern
ment desired to place loan bonds for
many millions Of dollars In the Lon
don market. He informed Mr.. Bennett
that he was to be the agent of Palaeio
In the matter and would make a for
tune out of 1t. Then he asked for the
cooperation of the Herald, on the score
of old-time friendship. and finally he
announced that If the Herald could be-
little the revolutionary cause, and so
stimulate the confidence of bankers In
the government bonds, the transa ction
would be worth two or three hundred
thousands dollars to Mr.. Bennett. At
this Mr.. Bennett smiled grimly.
1T s worth a million dollars to the
Herald to know these facts" he said.
II do not quite understand YOU"
said the friend.
1T is worth 81 .ooo,0 900 to support the
other side"
Why, Mr.. Bennett, am too late
Have the other men seen your?
mo: not at all. But you have given
me proof that the government OF vene-
Euela deserves to fall. 1t is worth
S1,000,000 to the Herald to be on the
right side. ] shall back up the revolu-
tlon, and let the truth be known to the
world"
In vain the friend pleaded that his
conversation was confidential. and that
newspaper had no right to take advan-
tage of facts communicated under the
seal OF secrecy. Within an hour, a cable
message set the wonderful machinery
Of the Herald In motion, and day after
day its columns were crowded with
dispatches from special correspondents
In Venezuela, describing thlev yiwoyt
the revolutionary army and the weak
ness of the government. These dis
patches were reproduced in all the
European capitals. and Palacios bonds
could not find purchaser Without
money or credit, the tyrant FELL and
the first act OF Crespo, after he enter
ed Caracas at the head of his victorious
army, was to send a long cablegram,
at the public expense. thanking the
Herald, over his own signature, for Its
services In the cause of liberty and
constitutional government.