The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08

- RESENT conditions OF the press of
Chicago and some speculation as TO
changes which are impending In
that city, furnishes topic for
communication from Chicago to
the New York Evening Post. The writer
is one OF the ablest and best known news
paper men in America. Writing under date
of June IS, he says:
William r. Hearst. proprietor of the
New York Journal and San Francisco Ex-
aminer. will begin the publication OF
new daily paper In this city next month.
Nothing has occurred in the Journalism
of Chicago for many years which occa-
stoned so much OF a sensation as the an
nouncement OF Mr.. Hearst's intention. No
development OF the press in this city for
long period has aroused so much discus
sion among thoughtful people. or caused
so much apprehension as 20 the ultimate
consequence OF the new step.
Chicago once had a newspaper which was
in many respects the prototype Of the yell
low journalism that has iourished in New
York city OF late years. The Times. I'M
der Wilbur F. storey, twenty years ago,
was about everything that a newspaper
ought not to be- II was wildly sensation
al In its reporting; 1t was the common
sewer for the scandals not alone OF this
city, but also OF the whole country; II was
a sheet which no seif-resrecting father of a
proved what nobody should have doubted,
but what nobody before had dared 10 test
by experience--that there IL paying mar
ket for journalism OF this type in any great
city.
But for good many years past Chica-
go has been free from such Journalism. 1t
is the simple truth to say that the news
papers Of this city are thoroughly decent
and respectable. Many OF them. IT Is true.
run to big headlines when the news below
does not Justify such display, and In other
ways they offend the canons of good taste.
But they are not maliciously sensational;
and they are clean. The News. an even
ing paper which has the largest circula-
ton Of all at cent. IL rigorous rather
than lax in its standards. and there IL not
one of the great morning daiies which at
fronts the rightminded person at a glance
and disgusts him II he goes through its
pages.
The educated resident of Chicago who
has gone to New York OF late years, and
has Ind the yellow journalism of the me
tropols thrust Into his face at every turn
from early morning until late at night.
returns 20 his home with a sigh OF relief.
II went to New York on business trip
the other day" says leading lawyer who
has been prominent In the movement for
good municipal government here. land
confess that I was shocked every time
went to newsstand and saw the great
piles OF papers which, Il seemed TO me- no
decent person could read But what shock
ed me stii more" he added, was to ace
the large number OF apparently respecta-
bic people who bought and read them with
eagerness."
That IL Is no provincial pride which
makes Chicaccans consider their papers
superior III character to the most widely
circulated journals In New York .ppears
from the fact that Eastern people. COM
petent 10 Judge, who have not been fnmil-
lar with our press. confess their pleasant
disappointment when they become ac-
quainted with IT. They generally regard
this city as the epitome and exemplar ~
"the wild and woolly West" and their
only wonder is in what guise of scandal
Gus sensationaiism that Chicagoan
nustle.' of which they have heard SO