The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-23

From Harper's Weekly.
 We learn from a source that we hesi- tate to pronounce authoritative that the next move of the administration in the direction of federal control of industries will bear directly upon the newspapers published in this town. It Is well known that the chief magistrate has been dissat- isneu with the conduct of several Of them for some time. The Evening Post, peev- ish still despite the highly developed conscientiousness of MT. Oswald Garri- son Willard and the charming urbanity of MT. Rolo Ogden, was, as might have been anticipated, the first to offend, but a very close second, in the few intervals not given to scientific analysis of the moral expansion of a boW-wowing railway pres ident, was Mr. William Makepeace Faf- fans Sun. Then, about the beginning of dullness in the advertising season, the Ochs-Miller- Reign Times indulged In many obnoxious reflections. After awhile even MT. James Gordon Bennett began to cable double-leaded peeps to the Herald, and finally MT. Ralph reluctantly yielded to the earnest solicitations of the inter mittently retiring MT. Joseph Pulitzer, and indicated a sense of resentment at interference with the Worlds general di- rection of the universe.
 Such manifestations were naturally dis pleasing to the President from their com mencement, but with characteristic pa tience he withheld the heavy hand in the hope that the great worldly editors might be led by the gentle ministrations of MT. Silas Mckee in the Churchman to per eeiye the error of their ways and duly repent. But, we are informed, the Pres ident has now become convinced that Sile cannot deliver the goods, and more in sorrow than in anger he has determined to adopt more drastic measures The first suggestion, said to have eminated from the interstate commerce commission, aid ed and abetted by MT. Jacob Riis, was to attack the octopal Associated Press as monopoistic, but pteous appeals from Newport to leave undlsturbed its most shining ornament in the person of Mir Melville E. Stone, ultimately touched the heart that has been cruelty supposed to know no brother, and another method was demanded Happily, an assistant att torney general had few minutes to spare and with the usual deftness and ease pre- sented the solution which Is now receiving favorable consideration.
 The chief points in the indictment we understand to be- Q) that the newspa- pers, like the railways, are servants of the public, and therefore properly sub ject to governmental regulation; @ that this fact need not be established by ev- idence since the journals themselves ad mt and even praS ol lti to1 lilht tney CIT eulate in New Jersey, Connecticut and other commonwealths, and consequently fall within the provisions of the useful interstate commerce act, (4 that they make no public reports of their business, and widows and orphans desirous of in- vesting in their shares are unable to ac- quire information to which clearly they are entitled; (O that in several instances stock has been issued for goodwill, or, speaking plainly, shamelessly watered; (6) that great abuses have arisen in con- nection with advertising rates the down trodden servant girl being compelled to pay more per agate line than the opulent merchant, more favorable terms invaria-