Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-21
May Fl, 1904.
WILLIAM RANDoLPH HEARST.

WILLIAM HGN
william n. Hearst is coming Ia for
an unusual amount Of attention from
the press Of the country this week The
current number OF both Harper,s
Weekly and Golfers Weekly contain
interesting personal sketches Of the
exponent OF yellow journalism" con.
tributed by Charles +. Russell and
Walter brisbane, two OF his most cap.
able lientenants. These articles ara
of peculiar interest as appearing In
two publications which are scathing
ly hostile to Mr.. Hearst's methods
and ambitions. Mr.. brisbane seems to
be moved somewhat by a spirit of
bitterness over the abuse which has
been heaped upon Mr.. Hearst and 70
regard him as standing on q plano FAR
above the common herd, to which
his noble character and unselfish Ia
bors have elevated him. He does mot
believe that the ordinary successful
journalist is worthy 10 loose the
latchet or his shoes. MI. Russell
writes In d more sensible vein about
his chief. He seems to regard his
as an eminently capable and uccess
fui man who has chosen q life OF most
strenuous labor instead Of n Of lux.
urious ease; who has succeeded IN
spite OF his great inherited wealth;
who Is one or the most interesting fig.
ures on the national stage today; and
one would never infer that the subject
of his sketch was being defended IN
a Journal which reyiled him every
week. Both men scout tho idea that
Mr.. Hearst's success Ii due TO his
money one whit more than to his
brains. They laugh at the popular
belief that his chief labor In connec.
tion with his papers consists In hir.
ing talent To do the work. To quote
Mr.. Russell. "As a matter Of fact he
makes III epapers himself--with what
particularly may be guessed from the
fact that he personally selects every
line of display and hcad.letter type
that appears in them, personally de-
signs the style OF heads on the news
articles. and personally plans their
policy Of makeup as well as opinions
and procedure"
When Mr.. Hearst determined TO In.
wade the metropolitan field Of journal.
ism by the purchase Of the New York
Journal. d hopeless, il~l.fayored rag Of
d newspaper. his friends with one ac.
cord predicted absolute failure. Tho
New York field was believed to be
covered with It's array of welLestab-
lished and extremely able newspapers.
But Hearst believed that there were q
great many people In the metropolis
who read no newspapers. He had
reached this conviction by comparing
census and circulation figures. His
plan was TO make these people read
his paper.
Commenting on his success In this
effort. Mr.. Russell says
He evolved the whole ssytem or III.
biographical emphasis and unusual
methods which we vaguely call vel.
low jcurnaiism ny (which the enof
nous circulation Of his newspapers
has been achieved. It Is too late 10
copsAier very SeIptpy whether soipc
~ As Ike Or aislik3 yellow Journal.
ism. II is an accomplished fact in
the worlds history; II has come 10
stay. IL Is 10 newspaper publishing
land sociology as certain a discovery
az the cathode ray was in SCIENCE
Thus W. have nm Idea Of Mr.. Hearst
a. he appears to his friends ami fci.
how workers That he Is OF kindly
disposition n capable a. well as rich.
we cannot dispute. That he is good
and great We are not convinced and
that his influence upon his country.
men has ben ~eleyating we do not be.
lieye.
In. the course Of its editorial con.
ment ON Mr.. Russell's article, Har.
per's Weekly says:
N
1T was written by one OF the. very
brightest men in Mr.. Hearst,s employ
and naturally presents his best side,