New-York tribune., 1900-12-25
YEWsPApER rRUsTWoRrHLNEss.

The fact that the removal of District Attorney
Gardiner was based on an interview in sup
port of Devery given to a reporter of The
Tribune has excited some comment. There is
undoubtedly feeling abroad, which no self-re-
specting newspaper man can be obiivious to,
that the testimony of a newspaper reporter is
not entitled TO the highest respect. Even some
newspapers share this unfavorable view of their
profession. Thus, for instance, "Ihe New-York
Evening POST speaking of The Tribune re-
porter and Mr. Gardiner, says:
The interview purported to sustain Devery
and to censure the Grand Jury for indicting him
1t was very much like Gardiner TO give such
interviews, yet 1t is also the habit of a certain
class of newspaper reporters to exaggerate and
even manufacture such interviews and to pub
lish matter which the person interviewed in
tended as private communication
1t is unquestionably true that a certain class
of newspaper reporters are accustomed TO ex-
aggerate and manufacture news It is likewise
true that certain class of lawyers are given to
subornation of perjury and other dshonorable
practices. Some doctors indulge in most dis
graceful quackery. Some great business houses
send out goods adulterated AMI under false
labels until the consumer wonders whom he
dare trust The world is full of evil and there
Is no worK, from bricklaying to prea, hing
which is not invaded by rascals against whom
honest men have to be so much on their guard
that they are impelled TO give critical and sus-
picious attention to every strange preacher and
every strange bricklayer before accepting him
as person TO trust. But as well decide that
there is no honest preaching or bricklaying no
faithful physicians or lawyers or manufact-
urers, because 1t is necessary to exercise judg-
ment in trusting them, as TO assume that be-
cause there are bad newspaper reporters the
testimony of newspaper reporter ought not to
weigh heavily.
As well say that people ought to be careful
about falling into the clutches of Mr. Parsons
or Mr.. Carter because there are dangerous
shysters about the Criminal Courts Building as
TO call the trained workers for a high class
newspaper untrustworthy because a lot of dis
reputable persons call themselves newspaper
men and some disreputable publishers give cur
rency to their inventions. Honor and reputa-
uon are as much to be trusted In the field
OF newspapers as in the field of banking. The
public knows, If it wants to know, what news
papers are habitually accurate and truthful and
employ honorable. self-respecting reporters, and
what are made up of the gleanings of the gutter
because some people like to consume the gutter
product. The Tribune reporter who testified in
the Gardiner hearing is a careful. intelligent
gentleman, with many years experience Gov
/ ernor Roosevelt knew him, as other public men
have known him, TO be absolutely truthful and
unsensational, and his testimony among those
with power to discriminate needed no confirna-
ton. The test of truth is not the profession of
the witness, but his character The Tribune
employs men OF character and strives above all
hings TO be accurate and trustworthy in its