Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-06
AN OFFICIAL GAZETTE.

II IS reported on Talrly good aulnOrl-
ty from Washington, D. c., that the
United States will soon begin issuing
an Official Gazette" similar to the
publication Of the similar name in
Russia and almost all the European
countries. The mission OF the Gazette
Is not to give the news of the govern
ment first but to give it correctly and
officially The Washington CORES
pondent has worked wonders in the
capital city. Some years ago he was
regarded as man with a wonderful
nose for news" His acumen was re-
garded as little short Of marvellous,
and he often knew government secrets
before even the President had dream
ed Of them. OF course, he gave the
news to the world through his papers,
and the people were as we'll informed
as the President.
All this is changed now The Wash
ington correspondent has some work
to do, all right. but it is largely the
work of making friendships and
pounding the typewriter. For the
newspaper correspondent is a favored
Individual at Washington. He has
wrought revolution Instead of los
ing sleep in order to get news he is
given it freely by men of affairs in
the cap tal clay Those highest in
power, OF course, do not come under
his sway, but the hundreds of smaller
fry, who know the news of the country
and all of whom want the country to
know of them, are coming fast to see
that the people learn from the news
papers. So what is more natural than
for them to conclude that If they are
kind to the newspaper men, the lat
ter will return favor for favor.
This, then, is the reason why peo-
pie Of this country may expect soon to
see an Official Gazette. The officials
have grown so used to giving the real
news to the correspondents, and the
correspondents have grown SO used to
accepting 1T and paying for the favor
by giving the donors complimentary
mention whenever 1t would do the
most good, that the newspapers, or at
least some of them have found them
selves at the bottom Of a very respect
able boom before they knew it. The
boom may not be one for the presi-
dency and it may. More often, how
ever, 1t is for some consulate, some
position as department head, or some
increase in rank and remuneration for
the Washington official who has fay-
ored the correspondents.
The newspaper correspondents
search for news at the national CAPT
tai has brought about revolution. In
stead of following the beaten path Of
former times the officials and their
aides have adopted new plan to suit
the new conditions. 1t used to be said
that in order for single department
to secure an appropriation the depart
ment head must needs go to the Presi-
dent convince him of the wisdom Of
the plan, then do the same with the
speaker and the leader of the major
ity. Now all the enterprising depart
ment head has to do is to go to the
newspaper correspondents whom he
has treated kindly, explain to them
his new plan, and when they tell it to
the people, the demand that goes up
all over the country for the adoption
of the new plan is so powerful that
the powers that be- must listen and
obey.
Perhaps this Is as 1t should be. but
1t gives the Washington Official an op-
portunity to abuse as we'll as to use
the privilege of reaching the public
thus afforded him. Several unpleas-
ant entanglements have resulted from
such abuse and many people in Wash
ington official circles believe the Off
cial Gazette will prove the best pos
sible solution of the situation.
T.