The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-05-04

EalIaE . lhs AmsrIeaa aIaaaalns.

Editor oi ihe Amcrican magazine.
The Man with the Muck Rake" he
mas been caile3 and the name will
stick like pitch. The yellow journals
have made him and now he Is making
the magazines. There is nothing too
base for hin to follow; nothing TOO
fou for him 10 exploit. He needs
money ana he IS paid for the job. The
soul OF the circulation man Is in him.
Readers he nsist have. thousands Of
them. hnndreds Of thousands. Exag-
eeraiion. peryersion, truths, half
truths, lics-he heaps them up, regard
less Of honesty. reckless OF conse-
quences. absolutely without thought
Of the enormous responsibility that is
his.
am no apologist for the times we
live In. They are better times, per
haps, than the world has ever seen
before but they are fun OF spectacu-
lar wickedness in high places Of bust
ness and Of politics, just as they are
fnIi or the neaner sins OF smaller men.
There is no blinking the facts. Evil
IS here and We must face It and beat
Il back, but shall we Americans gulp
down the f3od every sc7ndal-monger
throws to us and swallow il hook, bait
and sinkerg shall every rexposer''
be our prophet? shall we PRICK up
long ears at every ass that brays?
It Is time to halt and to think so
berly. The last two years have wit
messed political revival in this coun-
try such as comes but once in gen
Grafton. a revuleiou against false lead
ors. as moral as any religious revival
in time of great calamity. Roosevelt,
Folk. Hughes, Deneen. jerome, have
led us. Shall we believe in the poll
tical creed which they without ceasing
repent: play the game hard, but
play It square and make every man
that plays it play It square too9" Shall
we follow them or shall we besot our
selves with the nostrums Ct every
yellow quack and then run hellfor
leather down the sleeps of socialism
trusting to the Providence which
watches over fools. drunkards and tbs
United states that we shall one da!
strike bottom?
socialism-that's where these lead
ers OF the magazines and newspaper
are headed for. The sentimentalis
who locks to find there the Kingdom
OF Brotherly Love upon Earth, the hon
est man, hysterical with anger at th'
high finance, the brave fool spoilinl
for fight, the good citizen who say
to himself. Where 50 much evil IS
the whole must be swept away 10 le
us build anew"-alI alike are follow
ing the LEAD Of the statesmen Of III
yellow press toward the ruinous e'
periment Of straight-out socialism en-
The long dead level Of PROSTATE enc
gics that must follow it.
Continued socialism Is unthinkabl
IN ths United States, but the bare e.
pertinent would cost US twenty-hy
years OF progress The sinister pol
tleians. the hirers Of the Men with tn
Muck Raxes, bounding their servant
on to exposures each more prurier
than the last would not hesitate
make the people pay the awful pric
Of their rise to a short-lived powe
The righteous indignation OF grel
nation Is being shaped 70 persons
ends with a malignant selfashness
purpose as coolly calculated as an
act In history.
The exposure movement among mi
gaines began with sincerity Of pu
pose. eThe History Of the standar
Oil Company was a unique unde
taking pursued with Industry sad
fair-mlnae>.Aess wholly admirable,
ss ..aly 30 much . say T., il thi
1t makes the starting-point Of an IN
mense and beneficial revolution. IN
was followed by series OF exposure
Of the revolving political conditions
cities and states which did magn
Hcent work for the right until theori'
instead OF facts began to d9minal
them and constructive pessim'si
came to be the ruling passion OF the
author. Then came lawson iurnir
states evid on his former aceoI
plIces, stirring up the people with
tremendous hurly.bnrly Of proof az
inference. denunciation. charge al
counter.oharge; sull doing great go'
in setting men TO thinking and suppl
ing newspaper inyeetiye with q ne
standard 10 live mp TO. Futile, eve