The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-22
YELLOW JOURNALISM.
ME-. Hcarst's Organ Is Nothing Less
Than an Incitcr OF Crime.
The New Yorker.

The New Yorker.
Americans are long-sufering. They are
long suffering in many ways. but TO one
particular form of abuse they have become
so accustomed that they seem TO think
there is no escape from 1t. For this appar-
ent conviction there is, OF course, no
foundation Under form Of government
which-is OF. for and by the people no abuse
can exist except by the consent or through
the tolerance-which means much the same
tiIing-of the victims. In odd cases the gam
is inserted so unskillfully that the quarry
resolves upon retaliation. short time
ago Mr.. w. L. ID. Stokes brought an action
for libel against the Journal. The proprie-
tor of that paper is Mr.. w. r. Hearst. His
name is plastered all over it. Every article
that, in his opinion, is worthy OF the honor
is copyrighted by him. He poses not only
as the proprietor but the editor OF the
Journal. Through his counsel In the action
brought by Mr.. Stokes he endeavored 10
escape the penalty of an alleged libel by
bubble. He lost the action.
1t is possible that particular issue of the
Journal does not contain a libel against
somebody. 1t does not seem probable. but
the unexpected happens at times. But IL
would be far safer TO wager that any issue
of the Journal does rather than does not
contain libel There is a law against
libel. A newspaper has no more right than
a private citizen TO damage fair fame or
endanger life. One Of the most respected
residents OF New York and one OF the ablest
men In the United States Is Mr.. j. Pierpont
Morgan. His career as a business man and
his life a private citizen have been
above reproach Soon after 1t became
known that Mr. Morgan was going 10 Lon
don the Journal announced that his chance
Of being killed there was good that
Scotland Yard, which is equivalent 10 our
Central office, intended 10 take extraor-
binary precautions TO guard against his
assassination. When Scotland Yard was
asked If this were so the answer was in
the negative. The detective branch Of the
English police knew OF no reason why Mr..
Morgan's life should be endangered, except
through unfounded reports put into circula-
ton by yellow journalism" There are
yellow" journals on both sides OF the At
lantic. and they seem TO exchange conf
dences.
Just before Mr.. Morgan landed at Liver
pool the Journal described the precautions
taken TO preserve Mr. Morgan from at
tempted ASSASSINATION, He was TO be
keep danger at arms length were 10 be
taken in his case than had been considered
necessary to secure immunity for the Ger
man Emperor. In all this there was not
word OF truth. Mr.. Morgan landed at Liv-
erpOol and walked 10 the train like any
other passenger. He was not surrounded
been molested by reporters. The rnachina-
tons of yellow journalism" however.
made IL impossible that he should not be
held up by its representatives and others
who at such times are forced 20 follow
its example. Mr.. Morgan had nothing to
say for publication. Interference with him
as a private citizen compelled him 70 say
LET me alone" Even these few and not
fattering words cabled across the
Atlantic Details Of what he intended 10
do in London have been printed here
They were purely imaginary.
For weeks the attitude or the Journal
toward Mr. Morgan has been calculated 10
arouse the animosity OF the mentally UNI
balanced. II some person not In meas
ure accountable FOR his actions were 20
kan Mr. Morgan the death OF that gentle
man would be the work OF the Journal
rather than that Of the fanatic who fired
the pistol or welded the knife Mr. Morgan
is not "A criminal. neither Is Mr.. W. r.
Hearst a public prosecutor. juCge and jury
IN one According TO the law Of the land
the person who incites TO murcer II ar ac-
oessory before the fact II some misguided
being were 10 kill Mr.. Morgan la London
he would be guilty Of murder. but he would
not be alone in the crime. The belief *
held that this a free country. There Is
ground for doubt when publications Ike
the Journal are permitted so Often 10 20
unscathed Mr.. Hearst may consider him.
self a fit censor OF public morals. but r. ne
a Judge OF his fitness and has he a right 10
so constitute himself? His Journalism 10