The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-02


and Press Exchange-)
AZ OF long ago a royal hint was
M given BY one Of the wtsest and
most tactful among the great
~ thronged rulers OF the world TO
that other ruling power which is fire.
quently alluded TO as the third es-
tate" Edward VII King by the
grace Of God over Great Britain md
all the dependencies which flourish
under the sign Of the rose, shamrock
and thistle. rising that courteous ANA
diplomatic manner which particuIa
belongs 10 him. expressed his hope
that the gentlemen OF the press would
30 heir best 70 foster amity an good
viii between the British empire and
other nations. Now among the many
kindly. thoughtful sagacious and fa-
sighted things which his Maj esty has
accomplished since ne ascended the
English throne. that highest seat OF
honor ina the world. perhaps this mild
and friendly suggestion TO the press
Il one o. the most pointed, necessary
and admirable Il Is suggestion
which, II accepted in the frank. manly
anu LAlL-lAlAOA1 EAlAAL III NntL4l II
ms been conveyed. would MAKE for
the peace Of Europe. Petty insult Of
ten beSets serious strife and the cheap
sheer OF q WOuld-be smart Journal
ist at another counCry's governmental
mistakes may lead TO consequences
undreamed Of, in newspaper Office
philosophy. Yet the journalist as
journalist. IS scarcely to blame if in
g praisewOrIhy desire to give a sell
Ing m NJ },
he is employed he gets up q little bit
Of speculative meIodrama. such as
German Malignity," Russian Trick
cry Mysterious Movements of the
Fleet p" French Insult to the King"
Americas Secret Treaty or Alarm
ing Eastern Rumors-" He is perhaps
not III any way departing from his
own special line of business If he
counts on the general gullibility OF
the public, though in this matter he
Is liable 10 be himself gulled. For
the public have been so often taken
in BY mere "sensatfonaIism' in war
news and the like that they are be-
ginning 10 view all such rumors with
more contempt than credence. Never
Jheless the ambitious little press boys
tfor they are only boys in their lack
OF dlScernment. whatever may be
their external appearance as grown
mem GO not deserve 50 much reproof
for their hot headed, impulsive and
thoughtless ways as the persOnages
set In authority over them, whose
business IL is 10 edit their copy be-
lore passing it on 10 the printers.
They are the responsible parties. and
when they forget the dignity of their
position 50 much as 10 allow a merely
jeJUne view OF the political situation
10 appear in their journals under fam
boyant headlines, which catch the eye
and ensnare the attention Of the more
or less uninStructed crowd, one natur-
ally deplores the LAPSE Of their hon
orabIe duty. For in this way a great
deal Of harm may be done and endless
misunderstanding and mischief created.
IL is quite wrong and wholly unpa-
triotic that newspapers Of any country
sEculd strive TO foster i'll feeling be-
tween conflicting nations or political
parties. When they engage in this
kind OF petty strife one is irresistibIy
reminded Of the bad child in the nurs-
cry. who. seeing his two little brothers
QUafreling, cries out: Go il. Toni
Go il. Jack Hit him in the eye" and
then, when the hit is given and mutual
screams follow, runs TO his mother
with the news-"Mai Tom and Jack
are fghtingl" with an entire Quashing
OF the fact that he helped TO set them
A. it. And when the trouble begins
t. be serious and national recrimina-
ucns are freely exchanged. il is GU
Tious 10 note how quickly the press on
both sides assumes the attitude of an
almost matrOnly remonstrance. One
hears in every leading article the How
can you behave so? Jack What a
naughty boy you are, Toni Positively,
/ an ashamed Of you botn,'