Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-01


and best paper in New York. Incl
- dentally, it was also the most sue
lSszlSAl cessfu Whether it succeeded because
it was the worst, because it was
the best, was question which neither the pro-
prietors nor the public had ever been able to
solve. There was sufficient uncertainty about
it to render it inadvsabe either to elevate it
or degrade it further so long as it continued to
succeed.
OF course, the character of a paper depends
upon the point of view. The Gazette was the
best paper in that it gave all the news imme-
diately, completely, entirely sparing no expense
to collect it and to disseminate it. 1t was the
worst paper in that it sometimes stated as a
fact, with prodigous emphasis, what was after
wards found to be untrue. All newspapers do
that, but not with the same sensational avidity
as the Gazette. There was neither modesty, de
cency, nor selfrestraint in its makeup. 1t was
the "yellowest" of the so-called yellow jour
nails" Its editorial column reflected the Jekyll
and Hyde spirit of the paper Sometimes the
editorials clear, logical, forceful, brilliant
appealing to the very highest. At other times
false, nsinoere, Illogical, specons, sophistical-
appealing to the very lowest.
The more reputable press and the more highly
cultivated public opinion of the city reprehend-
ed the Gazette; but everybody bought it, read
it, discussed it-even the clergy In any trolley
or elevated car at any hour of the day there were
to be seen more readers of the Gazette than of
all the other papers in New York.
It's principal rival was the Union. The Union
was better than the Gazette in that the proper
tion of good to bad in its constitution about
as three to one. 1t always seemed if the
Unions people emulated the policy of the Ga
zette and initiated that sheet as far as they
dared. In other words, lingering decency or
a groveling timidity kept them from being so
bad as they might have been. Its circulation
bore about the same proportion to the circula
ton of the Gazette, only in an inverse ratio, as
its morals did, which is severe reflection on
New York. The existence of both papers
reflection on New York for that matter. But
let that pass. The Gazette was the apotheosis of
literary sharp PRACTICES the Union feeble
imitation thereof Naturally, not being so bad
as its rival the Union mistook weakness and
timidity for virtue and prided itself its
fnoralsl
Like sin, there was something in the atmos-
phere of the Gazette that intensely contag-
ious. 1t was marvel how the editor-in-chief
thereof managed to keep even half of his edito-
rails above suspicion. Everybody who worked
for the paper fell under the blighting spirit of
its methods In its pursuit of news nothing was
sacred. no advantage was neglected. Facts
obtained and told no matter what the conse-
ouences. The reporters, the various editors, the
pressmen even the newsboys, all felt and sue
c,,mbed to the noxious influence of the paper. 1t
lad outgrown any mere human control. Its pol
icv was become as irresistible as that of Russia,
and its editorial autocrats were as submissive to
il as the Car to his huge empire. The monster
obsessed them, the virus in its veins contaminat-