The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-26
Tarnbourine Journalism.

THE real Mr. Hearst is discussed in Parsons
L magazine by James creelman -, Mr. Oreelman
abroad His relations with the editor and owner were
confidential, and he if anyone, ought to be able to
give summary Of character that puzzles many Peo
Die and satisfies few. Mr. Creelman has given his i'm
pressions and has incidentally revealed that he does
not know Mr.. Hearst-nobody does
He says: ''Whether we regard Hearst as the hon
est and unsesh spokesman Of oppressed and dlscon-
tented millions shallow and indecent demagog
playing upon the passions Of the people Tor the gat
fcation Of low and vulgar instinct for notoriety it
San be IN Se ne Of e
Now there is nothing in this which commands or
invites to accept the highest view OF HearsU
to the of the WEST Me- aa3es
the findings of fact to the jury.
= To say that Mr. Hearst has become force Is not
to close the question Other men have become force
Kearney was force Cexey was force; so was
Moody, SO Phillips Brooks. It Is readily recog-
nizable that there different kinds Of forces Nor
does any become force by reason OF any isolated
acts or expressions. The whole tendency OF a mans
work is the central fact to be sought and when it is
found the ncdentals may be dismissed. The totalty
of mans is made up Of many acts and opin-
IONS Some great scoundrels have been strong on the
domestic virtues; some, otherwise ideal men, have
lacked them almost entirely. If Charles had been
tried as father he would have been acquitted; had
Charles James Fox been indicted, as a gambler, he
would have been convicted.4 But Charles Stuart was
cold vindctive tyrant, who was properly condemned
for treachery and treason Charles James Fox was an
people is still felt in their constitution and laws.
If we should attempt to try Mr.. Hearst on specific
acts of his newspapers should have plentiful evil
dence offered Of noisy patriotism of heroic rescue OF
the poor Of fierce assaults entrenched privileges.
But what needs to be considered is not isolated acts
but the whole tendency of his style of journalism. The
Hearst papers abound in big headlines comic pictures
loud cartoons and editorials family suggestive Of
Rollo book for men. {. -.
Why's Mr.. Cree]man says it is because Mr.. Hearst
tknows that the majority of men and women have to
work too hard and too tired too pressed for time
and often dull and ignorant to read much that calls
for serious intellectual EFFORT. In other words, Mr.
Hearst talks down to his constituency In vulgar
headed Americans by pictures fit for the man.
The essence Of the Hearst idea is that people want
continuous performance with the stage always set and
the villain everastngly pursuing the lady, With one
set Of pictures he ncites the people resist the ice
trust with another he nctes anarchist to kill the
president. It is all in the play, which must 60
Mr.. Hearst has made effective and timely as
saults upon predatory wealth. But predatory wealth
is not the only thing evil There is also predatory
slang which is with MI. Hearsts active cooperation,
stealing language. There is predatory sensation
asm which famiiarizes with vice and destroys love
of the good, the beautiful and the true There is
predatory passion for advertising which stealing the
poise of the American people, Some people act if
we did not accept Hearst with all the drawbacks of
his system Of journalism should be lost. But he is
not the patentee Of the plan of national salvation. In
rejecting him do not invite the money power to do
it's worst. But in accepting him surely admit the
sufciency Of his estimate of the American people
too dull too pressed for time too dull and often too
ignorant to read much that calls for serious intellect
ual effort" .@...~