New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-23
TNSCPTPTLOTS "ENTEPPPISE."

The latest illustration Of what the yellow jour
nails call newspaper enterprise was offered yes
terday in the publication by the younger yellow
of what it called IAN authorized interview with
Senator Sherman, Secretary Of State Of the
"incomng Administration" In startling head
lines stretching across the entire first page was
the announcement: Sherman for War with
Spain for Numbering Americans" Then fol-
lowed in large black-faced type what purportcd
to be an authorized interview. in which Senator
Sherman ia made to say: THE only way to put
ian end 10 the atrocities is to declare war
with SPAIN with more of the same sort I'M
necessary TO repeat the effect of which, if true,
could only be 10 establish the conviction in the
mind of the reader that the Senator had sudden
w lost his senses. full-length picture Of the
Senator accompanied the reported nterview-the
sort of thing commonly practised by the yellows
as a token of authenticity and evidence Of good
faith Had there been a grain of truth in the
story or the least foundation for the interview
the bewderinc broadsidc might have been justi-
fed. for II would certainly have been the most
sensational piece of news that has startled the
American people this many day 1t would
have been sufficiently sensational If Senator
sherman had been only chairman of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. having no prospec-
tive intimate relations with the incoming Adj
ministration But that the Secretary of State
Of the Mckinley Administration should give III
terance to such opinions and make one OF the
yellow journals the medium for communicating
them 10 the public was only credible upon the
theory that he had gone mad
Ii is no wonder that Senator Sherman mani
Tested some warmth of feeling yesterday when
his attention was called TO il. OF course he de-
nounced it as a gross and shameless fabrication,
false from beginning to end. 1t was incredible
on It's face. Last night he said to n news
paper correspondent who called upon him 10
make inquiries concerning the matter. "a young
man called al my residence and stayed about
"a minute He asked me if / had heard about
"Rulz's death, and then began TO tell me about
at He also asked me about the treaty, but
did not talk about IT, We had n few words
| ''of conversation, but not word was said in
/ criticism or as an expression Of opinion This
/ appears 10 be the sole foundation for n fictitious
/ interview and delrious dispatch representing
that the Secretary of State of the incoming Adj
ministraton he'd announced himself in favor Of
war with Spain. And this is what yellow jour
nalism plumes itself upon. and daily exploits it.
self for. as newspaper enterprise. II hardly need
be said that the publication of such piece of
news "a this in any reputable journal would
have been most mischievous in its consequences
Nor. indeed. that the country owes It's escape
from serious embarrassment on account Of II
I 10 the fact that the enterprise OF yellow journal
ism has come to be pretty generally understood
and consequently dscredited
None the less do the brazen mendacity OF the
invention and the shameless effronery with
which II was attempted to be imposed upon pub
lie crcdulity deserve instant and uncompromising
reprObaton nj the hands OF reputable news
papers whose conductors conscentously strive
TO maintain the honor and dignity OF their call
ing and deserve the confidence Of the reading
public SO long as the cheap yeows confined
their enterprise to the publication OF faxed cable
grams from the crowned heads and Cabinet Min
listers Of Great Britain and Continental Europe
or were content with feeding out 10 the depraved
tastes of their peculiar constituencies the minute
details OF crimes the biographies OF criminals
the prurent gossip Of high life and low life. the
slang Of the slums and the literary efforts Of the