The Washington herald., 1907-10-13

No foreign. monarch or European gov
ernment has ever been reported 10 be
financially interested in any American
newspaper. In spite OF the widespread
belief abroad that everything here, even
to the very atmosphere, is tainted with
coEruption-a belief for which the literary
muckrakers Of this country are wholly TO
lblame-no rumor has ever been heard.
either in the Old World or on this side OF
the Atlantic. affecting the fair name Of
any organsof the press of the United
States in this respect.
This does not mean that no attempts
have been made by friendly powers and
their representatives in the New World
Ito influence the newspapers Of this eoUn-
try for political purposes. On the con-
ltrary, temptations of a pecuniary nature
have been In number of instances
placed In the way Of proprietors and re-
sponsible editors Of important journals Of
daily, weekly. and even monthly eharac-
ter. and sf the managers Of press asso-
Citations But none Of those thus ap-
preached. directly or Indirectly. has ever
exposed himself to the imputation of hav-
1 ing succumbed to alien wiles at the cost
OF his independence and patriotism.
None OF the rulers OF the Old World Is
Indifferent to the power of the American
press. Prince Henry Of Prussia. when he
visited this country. made no secret Of
the fact that his brother, the Kaiser. had
Instructed him to devote particular atten-
ton and study TO American newspaper
men. who, in the opinion OF his Teutonic
majesty. were quite as important Ia their
way as great generals, since they were
the chief factors in molding that popular
seRtimRnt and public opinion which con-
trolls the direction Of the policy Of the
/ United states. Emperor William, indeed,
! is credited with having caused in IS9s,
/ 1899. and 1900 a most searching inyestiga-
/ ton 10 be made into the ownership and
edtorship Of all the leading newspapers
] IN this country. He was not content with
obtaining information concerning the in
/ telleetual capacity, the attainments, the
/ financial status, and private life Of the
men concerned and about the influences
/ By which they were swayed, but sought
| similar data concerning the writers Of the
articles brought 20 his attention.
/ Thanks TO this. there are few people en-
/ gagged in the journalistic profession.
/ whether as owners as editors. or as
/ managers, who possess such an extra
/ ordinary range Of information concerning
! newspaper men as the Kaiser, and Il will
/ doubtless ast0nish many journalists on
/ this side Of the ocean, particularly those
who have had occasion 20 write about
I him and his empire, 10 know that William
! II has -@+ed away in his splendid system
4 Of card indices all sorts Of data concern
/ ing them. even to the extent Of the size
of their families and Of their incomes.
Emperor William was led TO embark
upon this peculiar investigation by the
manner IN which his views and the policy
/ Of Germany were misFepresented by the
press In this country, particularly in the
| period following the American war with
Spain, when a foolish diplomatic mis-
understanding. f6r which the Kaiser and
/ his representatives were in no wise re-
sponsible in its origin. was exploited to
such an extent in the newspapers here as
10 almost bring about a rupture between
! his government and the United States.
Emperor William makes no secret Of
the fact that this inquiry Of his has con
WINGED him Of the honesty and sincerity
of the American press. at any rate in
the discussion Of foreign affaikS. He
realizes that mistakes often occur, aris-
! ing from misconeeption and lack Of in
formation. but he has assured himself
( that whatever may be said about the
corruption Of public life in America. the
! press is particularly free from any re-
/ proach in connection Herewith That IS
why American writers for the press are
treated by the Kaiser with a distinction
which he refrains from according 10 the
newspaper men OF his own country.
Car Nicholas II has likewise mani
tested a good viii to the American press,
which contrasts strangely with the
4 drastic methods of his government in
dealing with all Muscovite publications
Thus he has accorded numerous private
audiences 20 Melville E. Stone. the gen.
/ eral manager of q press association Of
the United States, and has conceded 10
! that organization privileges In the shape
Of immunity from censorship, and in
connection with the rapid expedition OF
telegramS. (which are not only without
q
amazement Of the members OF his gov
ernment. and the envy of journalists
both in Russia and in Western Europe.
King Edward. zoo, has on more than
one occasion availed himself OF the col
umns OF American newspapers 10 send
messages 10 the American people, one Of
these messages, published in the New
York World at the time Of the Yenezue-
Ian imbroglio. proving efficacious in allay-
! ing popular excitement that had brought
this country 10 the brink OF war with
Great Britain; while both the late Pope
and the present pontif have also chosen
newspapers on this side Of the Atlantic
as the means of conveying TO the people
of the United States words of good will
and of blessing. From this il will be
seen that the American press enjoys an
altogether exceptional prestige and re-
speet in the eyes Of the rulers OF the Old
World.
Abroad the press is less favored in this
regard-that Is to say, on the continent
Of Europe. or course. there are many
newspapers that are quite as patriotic,
quite as independent, and quite as ineor-
ruptible as their contemporaries on this
side of the Atlantic Ocean. But there are
others of which this cannot be said
which have laid themselves open to some
thing more than the mere suspicion of
having placed their columns at the dis
posal of foreign governments In return
for monetary considerations. That is TO
say the European continental press. as
a whole, is less patri0tically honest and
less incorruptible than that OF the United
States. This is made apparent not only
by the superior consideration shown
abroad to the American newspapers, but
likewise by the fact that funds are pub
n