The sun., 1901-02-21
L. H. rs LETTER.
Bryan's Newspaper Venture Not
Coming Up to Expectations---The
Struggle OF PhiladeIph.s's "Yei-
low" Journals for Lffe---Ex-Gover-
nor Patrison's Hopes.

Struggle OF PhiladeIph.s's" "Yei-
low" Journals for Life---Ex-Goyer-
nor Pattison's Hopes.
Philadelphia, February 20.
Contrary to the expectations Of MIR.
Bryan's enthusiastic Philadelphia
friends, "The Commoner," which is sold
ut various newstands about town, does
not create that profound impression
which his admirers had vouchsafed for
it. Indeed, the prevailing opinion is not
at all encouraging, if that which rules
in the Quaker City may be accepted as
d standard With great blare of
trumpets, Mr. Bryan announced that he
would give to the world Il paper so
much superior To the ordinary pubica-
tions, that the average man would bow
reverently before its august presence
and sing its praises upon the mouse
tops before an amazed pubic. UP 10
the present moment there has been no
singing Of praises nor any profound ad-
miration expressed by the masses-the
common people-as Mr.. Bryan delights
to call them. Upon the contrary The
Commoner'' has fallen fiat. 1t is paper
that teens with the personal opinions
of a. defeated man, and as the various
phases of opinion find expression, they
reflect n certain soreness of disposition
and an acrimony of speech and re-
gretful solicitude for the welfare of the
people of this great country, quite in keep
| ing with the past policy OF the defunct
silver advocate.
| Bryan was prompted to publish his
paper for the benefit of the country. So
impressed is he with this thought that
he boldly spells benefited with two its,
and presently we may hear of the great
men of the West launching out with q
brand new spelling book, deluged with
a discovered pool of Bryanite wisdom.
| Bryan's Commoner may not only revo,
utionize the primitive methods of the
old-time politician, but it may play the
mischief with the rules Of orthographies
laid down by Worcester and Webster
in its days of long ago.
No politician will be safe in his own
country while bryan wields his pointed
pen in behalf Of the white metal nor
will any collcge-brcd man feel sure OF
his "p's," "q's," and "t's" while the re-
nowned statesman spells benefited with
two "t's.'
Il There's nothing like novelty, even il
one has to depart from the beaten paths
of knowledge to find it, but the novelty
Of 'bad spell seems to pursue Mr.
Bryan even now that he has retired tt
The editors desk.
1t is possihle-possible, mind you
that former Governor Pattison may bt
the Democratic Judge of the new Couri
of Common Pleas Mr.. Pattison isheld il
high esteem by thousands of >Republi
cans, and the association of his nam,
with this high office, has thus far me
with general approval by the people
Unfortunately for the people, Mr.. Patti
son, and Philadelphia, too, the public
will not be consulted at the importan
moment. The politicians-those brigh
Fellows who never let an opportunit.
slip by without improving twill talk
Ia hand iii the matter and put in th'
hair the man Of their choice.
Mr.. Pattison is popular and conse
quently has hosts Of friends, but if III
does not meet the requirements pre-
scribed by the men who pull the wires
mis- popularity will not avail him th'
judgship. According to the ideas o
some of the friends of Mr.. Pattison, III
has already roceived his norti@u Of p0litl
cal honors and should not be mentionet
in connection with the new court. Blu
regardless OF all this criticism, which i
confined to the jealous few, his name i
being freely discussed by prominen
men of affairs, and according to til
| ., l.. l,..,,
carefully groomed for the competitiv
race.
Publishers of penny papers are find
ing the competition 50 eXceedingl
strong among themselves, that they loo
with alarm upon any movement mad
in their midst by a particularly aggreS
/. sive rival. New York has long since e2
perienced these paroxysms Of expec
ancy and pangs of disappointment, an
the publishers over there are beginnin
: TO cast about for some plausible e,
cuse for the abolishment of eXpensiy
departures in the way of sensationalisl
!, and yellow enthusiasm. Yellow journa
= ism, it has been discovered after I'll
/ expenditure Of a prodigious amount {
|
i but when Il newspaper once becom,
classed as a yellow paper, the odiul
clings to it long after it tries to enter Il
ranks of responsibility and sturdines
$ We have had some exhibitions of ye
i. low journalism here among the morniI
! publications, and the result that h;
followed has been decidedly unsatisfa
: tory to the publishers all around. III
l. sowing of the wind brought harve
!, Of whirlwind, and now every proprietor
. the penny press is sleeping in Il bed
thorns and dreaming terrible dreams.
The blast has done an injury to, pr
II gressivc journalism that it will tai
II years Of time TO counteract, not on
a among the readers but in the world
+, business as we'll
- The readers of the present do II
q pcruse the papers with the care tn
ir marked the methods of readers ten yea
ago, and consequently, the business IN;
Of limited means, who cannot spread h
- announcement upon whole pal
q. stands aside, while his more pretentio
IS neighbor rushes into print to the extc
I of six or seven columns.
News is glanced over because it
= considered sensational, and advertis
III ments aic treated III the same has
n manner--for the reason that the reader
Ks mind is in no condition to Absorb CO
n truths.
1t is the fashion now to read hca
~ lines and permit the story itself to
at main unread, all because the yellc
ne journal has persisted in painting ever
ho thing in the glaring color which is NJ
causing SO much trouble.
io This dcplorable condition is beginmi
pl IN d.