Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-27
NEWS AND FAKES.

NEWS AND FAKES.
At this time, while the fakir is abroad
in the land, we wish our readers to un-
derstand most distinctly that it is our pur-
pose to give them news that is of the most
trustworthy character.
For the greater portion of our war news
we have to rely on the daily papers; but
many years of experience have taught us
not to accept all we see printed as true.
Infallibility is something usually rare,
and we make no pretensions in that direc-
ton; but we have not often been i'm
posed upon or allowed our readers to be
imposed upon in matters Of news.
The daily papers are by no means re-
sponsible for all the fakes and canards
that are constantly in circulation-not the
half of them. Some of these stories orig
mate in Washington for political pur-
poses, some in Wall street for the purpose
of affecting the market, and some with
the every day home liar for the fun of the
thing.
Sometimes the daily papers are picked
up by canard, and the next day they
correct it. We, therefore, have three
chances between each issue of THE EN-
QUIRER to get things straight, and much
of our work consists in separating the
straight from the crooked, and making
conflicting versions Of the same story
straight and comprehensive. THE EN-
oUIRER has the distinction of being
the the only paper in the whole country
that ever undertakes such arduous labor
as this in connection with news matters
but it is only by careful, painstaking
work that accuracy can be secured.
When it comes to telegraphic news, we
have only to say that we do the best
we can. We have not sought the cheap
est but the best we can reasonably afford.
We avoid, as far as we can, ordinary AS
socated Press bulletins. These have
some value; but not much. They are
sent out by the morning papers princi-
pally for advertising purposes. Some
times they are correct and sometimes
they are not. It is not intended that
they shall be misleading in any particu-
lar; but their unreliability comes from
the fact that they are hurried off at the
first intimation Of the news before there
has been opportunity for investigation.
1t is frequently the case that daily papers
of the next morning contain not line in
confirmation of bulletins posted the day
before. But while we have preferred to
get better class of service than this,
still we do not want our readers to accept
as absolutely reliable, especially in detail,
the news that comes to us by telegraph.
However, let us not be understood as
discrediting this news. So far as it goes,
it is as reliable as is published by any 9TH
er paper anywhere at the same hour.
But here is the trouble. The morning
papers have generally swept the field of
news up to or o'clock of the morning
of publication. Our instructions as to tel
egraphic matter is that we do not want a
line by wire that has appeared in the
morning papers, except in correction of
some material misstatement made by
these papers. From the time the morn
ing papers are issued until the time THE
ENQUIRER goes to press, is only about 13
hours. 1t is only news of great import
ance which develops within this time that
is available, and it is easy to see that in
wiring it forward from all parts Of the
country, it is natural that there should be
some mistakes. But, all the same, by
this means each paper becomes COM
plete record, from the hour of the issuance
of the preceding number, up to the very
hour of going to press, and the reader is
kept in close touch with the exciting
events that are now happening on land
and sea.
AS we have said before, no matter what
happens, we are going to keep our read
ers as well informed as possible with the
greatest possible dispatch, and we will
use our most careful vigilance not to allow
our readers to be taken in by fakirs here
or alSawharn