Evening journal., 1905-06-29
HOW OFFICIALS
Use THE PRESS
Bowen's Dismissal Was Due
Primarily to Articles He
Gave Out
SOME OTHER CASES -POIHI
ey william WoIff smIth.

terest in showing the utilization Of the
press by government officials. The
sensational dismissal of Minister Bow
en- was accompanied by a vigorous de-
nunciation of his alleged attempt 20
injure his predecessor, Assistant Sec
retary of State Loomis. by giving to
the Caracas correspondents of Ameri-
can newspapers. news matter the pub
lication of which in this country was
calculated to discredit Looms. Bow
en- apparently relied on the correspond
ents to keep the source Of their stor-
les confidential. In this he made a
mistake, for the correspondents. nav
| ing worked the scandal to exhaustion.
promptly came to Washington and
gave him away. Now Bowen. dismiss
ed in disgrace. is out with a charge
against Loomis of inspiring articles in
the press sent from this country, FIR
the purpose Of injuring him. while he
was working the Caracas correspond
ents.
While the papers are filled with the
details Of this disgusting diplomatic
scandal, a choice tid-bit is contributed
from Panama concerning John E1:-
rett, Minister to Colombia. For sew
eral years the name of MI Barrett has
appeared frequently in the public print
and somewhat strange to say, always
i'm connection with laudatory articles.
AS commissioner to foreign countries
In behalf of some exhibition or other.
as remembered it was the St LOUIS.
Mr.. Barrett's comings and goings were
always noted. When Minister to Siam
and Minister to Panama and finally
Minister to Colombia, every time Bar
rett appeared i'm Washington the news
papers mentioned at greater or less
length his arrival and his departure,
detailed his mission and its successful
conclusion and rehashed his history 10
date, showing the inest.mable services
he had rendered his country.
Recently a laudatory article of this
character appeared in the Star and
Herald of Panama, crediting Mr.. Bar
rett with "averting a cataclysm" as
the Washington Post puts it, in the
Republic of Panama. Copies Of this
article found their way to America and
were literally reprinted. A few days
later the Star and Herald had another
article in which the credit formerly
given Barrett was bestowed on Presi-
dent Amador. This led the Post to in
qure why the Star and Herald should
have reversed its position. The edi-
torial explanation made by the latter
paper is that "the very laudatory ar
ticle referred to by the Washington
Post was left at this Office by Mr. Bar
retts private secretary, and we have
every reason to believe was written by
Mr. Barrett himself, his powers Of self
laudation having long been the envy
Of those seeking diplomatic promotion
This statement by the star and Her
laid causes the Washington Post to la
ment the fact that Bowen had not con-
fined his press work to blowing his
Town horn instead of attacking Loomis
lon the theory that had he done so he
might have remained a shining lumi-
nary in the galaxy Of diplomatic stars
Not so long ago. when a President
had something he wished TO say C
the public he called in one or two per-
sonal friends, among the correspond
, Tents, and discussed the matter pri-
vately. Then they sounded the people
and If the idea was popular the Pres.
ident announced his policy. The SAINT
program was followed by the Cabine
officers. Roosevelt has changed al
this. II he believes his views on q
, subject should be made public the,
, are given TO the press direct, and pub.
llished throughout the country. Today
IL may be on the Morton case, yester.
day the Bowen LOomis controversy,
, last week on the reorganization OF the
departments the week before the pro-
posal OF peace to Russia and Japan.
No President ever took the public
into his confidence or made his appea
to the public through the press as doe
President Roosevelt. who does not en-
trust the work to his personal friends
among the correspondents but gives
, the matter to the press himself
through his secretaries. And the pub
lie appreciate the fact and II makes
b him more popular-the direct method
is Rooseveltian and 1t appeals to tn
people.
There are not wanting. however
! those who complain that the dignit,
+ and standing Of the Washington CORE
!, spondent is threatened by such a pro
e cedure. Formerly he was supposed 4
p be a man OF acumen and almost su
= lperhuman intelligence. He forecastei
political events discussed the intri
8 cacies Of diplomacy i'm learned fashioa
and was popularity reputed to be oi
;. terms Of familiarity with the mighty
= Under present conditions it is differ
lent. While the correspondent is sharp
iening his pencil preparatory to givin
p the views of high official" or a Sen
e ator who cannot be mentioned" .
e specializing on the attitude Of the ad
- ministration, the typewriter in the IF
y ace of the White House is merrill
% ticking away. and by the time the cor
e respondent puts the finishing touche
Y on his dispatch he finds an ofiicia
E statement has been issued on that YER
d subject. and as the people prefer I
read what President Roosevelt says h
. thinks or has done, rather than tn
- speculations of the correspondent tn
= latter regretfully tears up his specia
10 dispatch. while the official statemen
IS goes out by the press associations.
AS one OF them said recently: "A
office boy can get more news now tina
+ the best of us twenty years ag,
-. What's the use of a correspondent
u working hard to find out the Presi
r. dents views on subject when he ca
- send a messenger TO the White Hous
e and get it i'm typewrting?" Trul!
5 under the new system boy on
wheel can collect more news" by call
n ing az the departments than the bes
= OF the correspondents could have oil
e tained twenty years ago by the hard
b est kind OF work,
o or course. by far the greater part {
y this publicity is T., the benefit Of th
e public and is entirely prsiseworthy. bt
i the danger liss IN the abuse. not IN
a use. ef sueh publicity. For instsnc
there ars individuals in the govern
n lfnea4 earyffa ashacs a.t-rrx ~. NV Sub