The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-13
THE SHELDON DAILY.

kilograms on the subject from the ed1-
tor of the New York Herald, dictated
the first portion of the following opin-
ion and criticism of the Sheldon News
paper experiment. Later in the even
ing, about O'Clock; and again before
midnight. the rest of the message was
filed. AS 1t gives the opinions of this
paper, modified slightly only to the ex-
tent of the presentation of the entire
copy of the Capital this morning, the
matter is reprinted herewith as fol-
lows:
Special to the Herald, New York City:
I have your kilograms asking me to
give you signed criticism of Mr.. Shell
don's newspaper experiment in this
city. You request me to express my
self freely and fully. I will do the best
can. 1t is six o'clock, at the close of
long days hard work on my own pa
per, The Topeka State Journal, which
is the other daily here, mine being the
evening. the Capital the morning.
newspaper.
You appeal, of course, to source
which is of necessity somewhat preju
diced.
I shall try to be fair, however.
have no ill-will towards the Capt.
tai, and my relations with Mr.. Shell
don are the most pleasant. I respect
him as a man and as citizen. He has
done much good work, both in and out
of his church.
His venture in newspaper lines,
think. will be a disappointment, both
to him and to the public. I give Mr..
Sheldon credit for great sincerity, earn
estness of purpose, and an anxiety to
do good. He said today, in talking
with the reporters OF various papers.
''Fhis week means everything to me.
It is serious work, not play"
Mr.. Sheldon. I believe. is increasing
his notoriety at the expense of his rep
utation.
The financial part of the paper has
been worked to the utmost limit.
This, however, it must be said, has all
been done before Mr.. Sheldon has taken
control. do not understand that Mr..
Sheldon has really approved what has
been done by the business management
of the Capital, at any rate he has not
yet assumed control, or rather pro-
duced a single issue Of a completed pa
per. Today, of course, he started in
with the preliminary work, and at this
moment, presume. is going over news,
editorial and advertising matter.
Today he gave instructions to his re-
porters; many of these instructions are
sensible, many are foolish. BY that
mean to say foolish for the conduct
of a newspaper. Mr.. Sheldon can not
run a newspaper, in my opinion. on
the plan he outlines.
Without the news a paper becomes
merely a periodical.
Mr.. Sheldon says to his reporters,
avoid slang" That is quite good
rule.
He says Submit all interviews to the
person interviewed" That is all right
for a weekly or for monthly publ
cation, but is impracticable for an en-
terprising daily newspaper, and none
else can exist and be a power for good
in these days of modern action, compe-
tition and endeavor. I do not believe
in fake interviews; in fact, abhor
them, but a reporter can interview a
man and give him exact justice, if he
is the right kind of a reporter on the
right kind of a paper and knows his
business. He can do this without nee
essarily submitting his stuff to the one
interviewed; indeed there would often
be no time to submit it The paper
would be delayed, the mails missed
and the interview the following day
worthless as news.
mo theatrical news of any kind
says Mr.. Sheldon, sis wanted" Com
ment is really unnecessary. The great
mass of people patronize the theaters
some of the best people in this country
do so; they want theatrical news, and
they want theatrical advertising in the
columns of the paper they depend upon
to advise them Of the attractions which
are to be presented. When Mr.. Sheldon
says theatrical, I presume he means
| Grand Opera, The Drama, and even
Uncle Toms Cabin"
He wants only clean sporting news:
that's not so bad, but it is not clear
to me where he will draw the line.
''In reporting crime.'' says he, "give
only the bare statement, avoid the hor-
rible details" Many of the Horrible
| Details" might well be omitted from
some of the yellow journals, but I can
not comprehend how such important
news as the murder of prominent citi-
zen can be covered in what pretends to
be newspaper, even a Christian daily
paper, by giving the barest details
and simply saying that "Guiteau shot
Garfield" then fill up the paper with
communications and signed articles
/ prepared days ahead.
Political stories must be non-parti-
SAM says Mr.. Sheldon. I think Mr.
Sheldon here is eminent1y correct.
Scandals" says the preacher-edi
tor, Avoid them, waste no time or
them; they will not be printed" Mr.
Sheldon has a pretty level head here
and his nose for news in this respect i.
not to be snubbed at.
After I get something to eat and lool
over the early proofs of Mr.. Sheldon'i
first editions, which am promised ear
" in the evening, I will give you my
further views, if you desire them
It is now $50 Topeka time-9:30 New
York. Only ten proofs for twenty-si1
newspaper men, A careful survey O