The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-30
Influence Of Yellow Journals.

posals.
Influence Of Yellow Journals.
It will strike the American newspaper
men as somewhat ridiculous that an Eng
lishman of standing and position in the
same profession should be so willing to
accept the yellow journals of this country
at their own valuation as did Mr. Alfred
Harmsworth when he spoke of sMr Pu-l
litzer's wonderful stroke of journalistic
genius in connection with the bond issue;
Mr.. Hearst's successful appeal to the peo-
pie ON the war issue between the United
States and spain.''
The London newspapers are pre-emi-
nently the British newspapers It Is the
London newspapers which practically give
tone to the whole press of the islands.
People all over the kingdom read the
London newspapers and perhaps are infiu-
enced considerably by them. For this rea-
son, probably. 1t is that London news
paper man Hike Mr.. Harmsworth imagines
that the New York newspapers hold a like
position in this country. Precisely the con-
trary IL the case. AS literal matter of
fact, the influence which any OF the New
York newspapers exerts outside of its own
state is infinitesimal and the yellow
journals to which Mr. Harmsworth par
ticularly alludes have the least of all.
The Sunday editions OF those papers cir
cuIate generally throughout the country.
but the weekday editions are rarely seen
The, percentage OF the people who read
them is small. outside Of New York. ana
their Influence nothing. The sentiment of
London may be the sentiment of Great
Britain. The sentiment of New York is
not matter OF paramount Importance in
debating public policies One or two New
England states, represented by strong men
In both houses OF congress. can exercise
more Influence In directing national poll
eies I'm this country than can New York
I Mr.. Harmsworth's talk OF PuIitzer.s
genius in connection with the bond issue
is sufficient to make the average Ameri-
can citizen gasp and stare. He had never
heard of the matter In his life. BY a lit
tie effort of memory, a newspaper man
can recall that with the colossal effron-
terry peculiar TO yellow journals. the New
York World claimed credit for having in
aliapra1 he aJy,i.ls.,.4so..
kinley to float the war loan by popular
subscription. instead OF through bank
ing syndicate, the latter being the man
ner I'm use by the last administration. with
which the World was in political synpa-
thy. or course. everyone in this country
knows that the World had inst as much
influence in the outlining OF this policy
as 1t had In diver,ina the predicted shower
OF Leonides last November. It's claims
in that direction are simply the usual vel
low journalistic self-advcr;islng bfuf.
which imposed upon nobody save appar-
eatiy some newspaper men across the
water.
The same was the case win the claim
that Hearst. OF his particular yellow Jour
naL exer,ei any marked influence in Gre
ating public sentiment on the subject az
the war with SPAR Public sentiment IN
this country Is not created by any such
means All the yellow journals IN the
country could have screeehed antn aoons.
day upon the subject without exertlng any
appreciaDie influence upon public xenti-
ment, had 81 not been Tor the blowing
up ot the Maine After that occurred.
war Was Inevitable That the journal ana
other newspapers Or the same stripe
clamored FOR war Was simply IN response
TO the public sentiment which they fol-
lowed but did not lead
II is to he hoped sincerely that the Rsi..
ish newspapers and people will proceed
to disabgse themselves on the idea which
they apparently have. that public senfI-
ment In the rpited states H. created BY
the yellow journals Of this country. So
long as they entertain such an idea, Il
will be somewhat difficult for them "a
arrive AZ a proper understanding OF Amer
lean motives and American thought. Al
present they apparently labor under The
deiusion that the slums OF the great cit
ies. which furnish the eilentage o. the VEL
low journals, consulate the most inaa-
entail ana rspfns.nfalyva ho.f,. II, 49,