Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-15
THE REPORTER.


 Victor Smith, paragrapher on the New York Press, recently devoted about half his column "On the Tip of Tongue to the newspaper reporter and the work he is doing. MT Smith | says:
 "One of the sad features of civil and military life is the unprepared- ness of men in the presence, of the newspaper reporter. Without the re- porter there might be papers, but not newspapers. He is a necessary evil if he is any kind of an evil. Those'who fight hardest against him and oppose his mission are the very ones who at some future day need him most, and it Is they who will work most strenuous ly to use him for their purposes. It gives me pleasure to say that we of the Fourth Estate are gradually edu- eating the public in the art of receiv ing newspaper men and treating them which the exigencies of the hour de- | mand. We are here to stay. We are | friends of all good and enemies of all guIe.'
 "One of the leading reporters of the city was introduced to q Wall street broker, a man of no considerable con sequence, but much puffed up with his success as an eights-and-quarter go- between. The introducer had neglect ed to mention that he was a reporter, and the conversation was general. Later on the identity of the gentleman was exposed. whereupon the broker | threw up his hands, exclaiming, "Good God A reporter? I'm ruined. Why | didn't you say so before you intro duced him?' The situation was slight ly strained. The reporter said quietly: Don't let that worry you. In the first place, I am not here for news, ideas or suggestions. In the second what you know is not worth publishing. In the third. nobody outside of this once ever heard of you, therefore, what you might say would be of no newspaper interest. Tn the fourth, I carry more Wall street secrets in my memory than you ever dreamed of-secrets of big men and great institutions. You are perfectly safe. Good morning"
 ''In less than two months that broker, frightened so badly, sent 8 friend to the reporter, begging him to mention an affair in which he personally was deeply interested. He is one of mum erous class affecting to be hoqier than reporters until needing a write up, then groveling. Successful men in public Life, almost without exception, rely up- on the reporter as a stepping stone to high office. They will take him into their confidence, steer him safely be- tween the devil and the deep sea, help l him to earn his salary by loading him up with news and incidently prosper their own cause. A combination of reporters could ruin a man in this l country. Owners of papers, editors-in chief, managing editors and city edi- tors cannot possibly get in so close touch with average man as can the re- porters, the office representatives, whom, they send out to hunt for facts in the market place, the palace, the hovel, the prison, the church, the wide wide world.
 T should like to propose a high school for the education of all men on the subject of How to Treat Report err It would end all friction. Let the public first understand that, he re porter is bound to have the news at all risks If he cannot get itsat. first hand he will take dt at second or third or tenth. He is not going back to his edi- tor with a hang-dog look and say he has failed. Never! He would fake first and take chances. of. being caught if caught faking, he soon loses his job. No reporter dn his right senses wants to fake. He wants the truth every time Then why hide it? Why insult him? Why increase his Iabors thou sandfoId? Why keep him out on the still hunt all night when by treating him in & common sensible manner you could set him right in a second and have early copy for the composing room?
 Many persons look down on report ters as if they were inferior creatures. I do not know any reporters who are angels, and I do know some who are devils with painted wings, but take them all in all they are the best set of . fellows in the world working like mad for their employers, spending liberally, living merrily and ever eager to do a I l c.,