Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-22
POLITICAL FAKE.
How 1t Originated, and How 1t Grew
aAd Was Disseminated.
indianapolis Journal.

indianapolis Journal.
A few days ago q citizen Of this town,
who happens to be vice president OF the
National Manufacturers association, went
to washington to invite President Roose-
welt to be present at the annual convention
OF the association to be held In this city
in May next. Arrived at the capital he
made an appointment with Senator Beyer-
idge to call with him at the White House
and introduce him to the president. The
cali and the introduction were made, the
invitation was given and the callers left.
No other subject was discussed but that
OF the invitation. This was q commonplace
and everyday occurrence, but 1t furnished
q starting point for the evolutionary pro-
cess. When the citizen returned from Wash
ington 1t occurred to a creative reporter OF
the Sentinel that here was a chance for a
story. The reporter must have what Shakes
peare calls IAN apprehensive, quick and
forgetive BRAIN" for out of this common
place Incident he constructed q story to the
effect that the citizen referred to was a
prospective candidate for vice president ON
the republican ticket in 1904; that Senator
Beverage had indicated his purpose to sup
port the citizens candidacy. at Is also
understood" the story went, that Presi-
dent Roosevelt looks with favor on the
movement, and that when Mr.. - called
at the White House recently the president
asked him how he would like to be on the
ticket with him In 1904" This was printed
in the Sentinel as a true story with SEN
sational headlines intended to emphasize
it's accuracy. II the publication had stopped
there the fake might be said to have died
a-bornin'." but In order to give 1t a further
semblanee Of truth 1t was sent as a special
| dispatch to a number Of outside papers. In
this second stage Of evolution the fake took
on several new features in the form Of pre-
tended details relating to an alleged po'
litical movement which II was averred had
been In progress several months. 1T
began said the special, with Senator
BeVeridge and New York and Pennsylvania
politicians who are very close to President
Roosevelt, about the same time. 1t said
several Of these New York and P~ennsyl-
vania politicians have been in Indianapolis
within the past two months to confer with
Mr.. - about the matter" and gave
further pretended details concerning the
alleged interview at the White House. In
this form the fake was passed by creduloua
or careless editors and publishers as news
with headlines sim further exaggerating It.
Thus the FAKE was fully launched. 1t was
promptly denied by Senator Beveridge and
the citizen referred TO, but the papers which
published the fake probably will not pub
lish the denials. The only foundation fol
the story was the citizens visit TO Wash
ington on the errand above indicated. al
the rest, including pretended particulars
personalities and politics, being made oui
OF whole cloth. The incident shows how
an enthusiastically small germ may, with
morbid environments and careful f~ertiliza'
tion, be developed into great proportions
Such eyolutions have . scientific interest
but they are = disgrace to American Jour
nAlism.