The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-17

THE EVOLUTION OF A FAKE.
A case Of recent occurrence in this city
illustrates the interesting process Of the
evolution of a newspaper fake-the latter
word being used in its coIloquial sense as
synonymous with canard or fabricated
story. AS the process of evolution mas
been found to prevail throughout the
natural world it might be expected to have
also some moral and immoral applications.
In a general sense the term is used to de-
scribe the passage from unorganized sim
plicity to organized complexity, the process
being in the nature of a growth. In this
sense a newspaper fake should have a
starting point-a germ, ovum or proto-
plasm, as il were-and from this small and
unorganized beginning should grow to large
and complex proportions. That was the
process in the case referred to.
A few days ago a 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
u IHe aSSOCldllOH 10 De nSlu III lHlS tAby
in May next. Arrived at the capital he
made an appointment with Senator Bever-
idge to call with him at the White House
and introduce him to the President. The
call 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 a commonplace
and everyday occurrence, but it furnished
a starting point for the evolutionary pro-
cess. When the citizen returned from
Washington it occurred to a creative re-
porter of the Sentinel that here was q
chance for a story. The reporter must
have had what Shakespeare Calls IAN APP
prehensive, quick and forgetive BRAIN" for
out of this commonplace incident he con-
structed a story to the effect that the citizen
referred to was a prospective candidate for
Vice President on the Republican ticket in
1904; that Senator Beveridge had indicated
his purpose to support the citizens can
didacy. 1T is also understood" the story
went, that President 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 1901"
This was printed in the Sentinel as a true
story with sensational headlines intended
to emphasize it's accuracy. If the publica-
ton had stopped there the fake might be
said TO have died a-bornin. but in or
der to give it a further semblance of truth
4 a. ----s-f s--o4oI - - ~,,Do
Der of outside papers. In this second stage
of evolution the fake took or several new
features in the form of pretended details
relating to an alleged political movement
which it 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 Pennsylvania 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 credulous or careless edi-
tors and published as news with headlines
still further exaggerating it. Thus the fake
was fully launched. 1t was promptly de-
MED by Senator Beveridge and the citizen
referred to. but the papers which published
the fake probably will not publish the de-
malls. The only foundation for the story
was the citizens visit to Washington or
the errand above indicated, all the rest,
including pretended particulars, PERSONAL
ties and politics. being made out of whole
cloth. The incident shows how an infini-
tesimally small germ may. with morbid
environments and careful fertilization, be
developed into great proportions. Such evo-
lutions have a scientific interest, but they
are a disgrace to American journalism.