The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-11-07
THE REPORTER.
some Pot0teEs an HAw to Traat kAn,
when He's AEACr News.

When He's AkA0r News.
Ono Of ne sad faAAsaDso e @& md
mintaEy Idss il ~ Woc1DACe1ssss u
men u tAs pGsssanse Of II AssTaDeRsS
reporter. Wizhsxt ~ reRsGssC taAs
might be pa&ers. bit net RANsSa0srs.
He is BeaassAEy ev1. II As 30 any
kind Of svu. These wRs fght hAEAAss
against hin and oppose his mission
are the very ones nhs at Some falsrs
day need him NEST, and 1t Is they
who will work most xtrsAuoHsly TO
use him for their purposes. 1t gives
me pleasure to say that We Of the
Fourth Estate are gradually educating
the public in the art Of receiving news
paper men and treating them with that
courtesy and frankRess which the ext
gsndss Of the hs2r demand. We are
here to stay. We are friends Of al
good and ansmiss Of all guile.
One OF tho leading reporters in this
city was introduced 10 Wall Street
broker, 4 man OF 10 ssusidsrs bio cen
sequence, but mash pyffed up with his
succesa as al Gghths-snde quarters &C.
between. The introduesr had neglected.
10 mention that he was q rsprsar, and
the conversation was general. Later
on the identity Of ths gentleman was
exposed, wllerexpon the broker threw
up Ills hands. a1daiminS: Good God.
\ reporter? I'm ruined. Why didn't
you say 80 before you introduced him.
The situation was slightly strained.
The reporter said quietly Don't let
that worry you. In the first place. l
am not here for news, ideas or sugGcs-
tons. In the second, what you know
IL not worth publishing. In the third.
nobody outside of this office ever heard
of you. therefore. what you might say
would be Of no newspaper interest. In
the fourth, l carry more Wall Street
secrets in my memory than you ever
dreamed of--ssogets OF zig men and
great institutions. You are perfectly
safe. Good morning"
In lssS than two months that broker,
so badly. sent 3 friend 10
the reporter begging him to mention an
affair in which he personally was
deeply interested He 10 one Of nu-
merous class affecting to 10 holiar
than reporters until needing 4 write
up, then grovelinS. Successful mon in
public life, almost without exception,
rely upon the reporter a. 4 stepping
xtor. to high onie~ They will take
him into their confidence. steer him
safely between the devil and the deep
sea, help him to earn his salary By
loading him UP with news ard incl
dentally prosper their own cause. A
Of reporters could ruin
any man In this country. Owners
Of papers, sditsrs-in-chlef. managing
editors and city editors cannot pos
sibiy get in 30 close touch with the
average man AZ can the reporters, the
Office representatives., whom they send
out to hunt 1or facts in the market
place. the palace the hsvd, the prison.
tho church, the wide. wide world.
should like to propose high sehssl
for the education Of all mon on the
subject OF How to TYsat Z Reporter.
It would end all friction. Let the pub
lie first understand that the reporter
Is bound TO have the news at all risks.
II he cannot get 1t at first hand hs will
take It at second or third or tenth. He
Is not going back to his editor with 4
hang Cog look ana say he has failed.
Never! He will fake frst-and take
chances Of being caught OF vindisatsd.
On reputable papers. II caught fixing
he soon loses his Job. Go reporter IN
his right senses wants to fake. lie
wants tho truth every time Then why
hide it, Why insult him? Why in
crease his labors 4 thcusandfold? Why
keep him out on the still hunt all night
when By treating him in 4 common
sensible manner you could set him
right IN 4 second and have early copy
for the composing room? Victor
Smith, in the New York Press.