The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-12
A YELLOW JOURNAL
BUTTE RESIDENT ASKS FOR A
DEFINITION OF TERM.
HEWRoTE TO THE PRESIDENT
CARDS to Chief Executive-A Jol-
lier Gives the Standard Jolt
On Circulation.

Time without end interested residents
OF every community in which a news
paper is published have appealed to the
editor to settle disputes. give informal
ton or explain mysteries that were con-
cealed deeper in the void of doubt than
the average mind can penetrate. This
morning three communications came to
the Inter Mountain. Each of them touch
upon different subjects, and all are sim
cere and evidently in good faith They
all deserve the respectful attention a
personal inquiry would receive. and the
writer's are all of the Inter Mountain
family of readers and entitled to especial
consideration.
Yellow Journals.
The first communication comes from
G. r. Mcdonald. who inquiries respecting
yellow journalism. Some days ago
the Inter Mountain editorial page re-
marked in terms too emphatic to admit
of mistake that the yellow journals
had contributed not little to the wave
OF anarchy which had burst upon the
country in the form of an attack upon
the president. Mr.. Mcdonald, filled
doubtless with a desire to inform him.
self concerning such malignant force
as was described In the term yellow
Journal" asked for a precise definition
of the form of newspaper making which
had eXerted such malign influence upon
the public mind.
In a recent issue Of the San Fran
cisco Chronicle David Star Jordan gives
utterance to sentiments similar to those
expressed by the Inter Mountain. This
very able gentleman says yellow jour-
nalism' is that section of the press
which values sensation more than
truth or peace or Justice" There you
have it. Without formulating a defin-
ition of it's own the Inter Mountain can
answer Mr.. McDonald's query by refer
ence to authority recognized everywhere
as sufficiently able to dispose of lit
tie matter like defining yellow jour-
nalism" or giving a deserved castigation
to newspapers which seek to stir up
strife, twist the truth from Its founda-
lions and influence the public mind-all
for the purpose of harvesting the nickles
Of the public which buys the paper IN
the belief that some day it will be able
to find a few grains of wheat in the
vast quantity of chaff.
Newspaper Circulation.
Another letter has something to say
about newspaper circulation. In face
cious vein the writer pokes a large
amount of fun at the Standard. 1t
is plain from a perusal of the commu-
nication that the writer is filled with
huge appreciation of the fun the Stand
ard is making in claiming larger cir
culation than all the daily papers in the
state. The writer of the letter describes
a mythical person on a sick bed with
the doctor leaning above the pain racked
pillow With deep concern the doctor
touches the patients pulse and noting
the feeble twitchings of it's artery, re-
marks that the circulation Is becoming
very greatly impaired. Immediately the
patient sits up and yells in frenZied
way.
IT'S a lie. My circulation is greater
than that Of all other newspapers in
the state"
The resident Of the western portion Of
the city who wrote the above commune
cation, asks as an especial favor that
.-.e joke be classified and placed in the
category of wit or humor. wherever it
belongs His is informed that the con-
tribution has something of wit about y,
is not altogether devoid of humor and,
to the target of his derisive jollying,
there must be an element of pathos also.
Letter to the President.
Another communication comes from A.
L. Hemers. a resident of Gunderson. This
latter name is the appellation bestowed
upon the postottice at Meaderville. Mr..
Deqners has written to President McKin-
ley. He communicates his impressions
upon first receiving the news of the at