The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-02
A Natural Inquiry.

d
yellow journal whose aim was, to use
the classic phrase of veteran Mime
sofa journalist, to "raise h--ll and sell
newspapers, it's editorial policy would
be better understood. We confess, how
ever, to state of doubt and uncertain
ty for some time, not unmixed with sus-
picion.
Collier s Weekly has been engaged for
some weeks in general and rather pre-
tentious reform movement Of its own.
Among other things it has addressed
itself to the business of manufacturing
and selling proprietary medicines; has
printed columns of charges against these
articles alleging adulteration with spir-
it's and with other deleterious ingredi-
ents to be common practice, and con-
demning substantially the whole list as
UNIV orthy of public confidence and as
something which should be banished
from the trade. This crusade has been
conducted along lines of ostensible dis
interestedness and professedly with an
| unselish purpose to protect the public
against the cupidity and greed Of I'M
scrupulous manufacturers and dealers.
| The sweeping nature of this -condemna-
| ton has aroused some suspicion us to its
| justice and fairness, but the semblance
of devotion to the public interest has
been so serious and apparently so hon
est as to invite public confidence in the
t good faith Of the accuser. -~.~. .-.r
Collier s, however, has not confined
itself to exposing the sins of, the manu-
facturers and dealers in these articles
but it has gone still further and has I'M
| dertaken to convict the daily newspaper
press of the country of venality and
subserviency to supposed exactions and
demands of these medicine manufac
turers, who are large users of newspaper
space for advertising purposes. No evi
| dence of a reasonable kind has been of
fered in support Of this charge, and the
accusation unsupported has tended tt
weaken confidence in the substantial
character of the charges preferred
against the proprietary medicines them
selves. The sympathy of American
4 journalism, however, is so strongly OF
the side of pure foods and pure drug
that no general protest has been mad,
against the injustice and inaccuracy
not to say reckless Justification, in thu
charges which Golfers prefers agains
the newspapers Of the country. What
ever of known injustice and .unfairnes
: has been recognized has been ignored o
excused on the ground Of excessive yea
and enthusiasm for the cause. Il
More recently, however, matters hav
,, come to light which are bound to rails
! more than a suspicion as to the integrit
and the honesty Of the motives whic
have guided Golfers in it's moral crr
sades. It's sensational assaults upo
!. those against whom it is easy, and pei
: lhaps popular, to excite prejudice an
: suspicion are Of a piece with the pei
!. formances Of number of sensations
magazines which have resorted to sin
liar schemes to attract attention t
! themselves, create circulation and Ell
= nance the value Of their advertiser
{ space.
8 That Golfers has been looking fo
e sensations and has not been particula
/ at all times as to whether it's sensations
t articles were founded upon facts is den
t onstrated by matters Of our own exper
Il ence and observation. It has recent