The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-13
Press Agents for the People.

The American Government has
spent millions on millions in con-
Quoting scientific Investigations for
the benefit of American Industries,
the improvement of American farm
ing, the advantage of the whole
American people. Practically all of
this outlay has been made for the
employment of experts and the pro-
yiding of an equipment prerequisite
to any study that should end in
practical results. How tangible
those results have been ought to
be known TO every citizen with
eyes in his head to read the news
papers.
But the seedless orange would
have delighted mighty few palates
if the news Of it had not been sent
from the Agricultural Department
all over the country. The arid
plains would never have been con-
verted into green fields by the Geo
logical Survey If the people had not
been told that it might be done
without prohibitive cost, and so sus-
tanned with a heaIthful public
opinion the Congress which appro-
priated the money. Especially
would none of thousands of i'm
provements in factory organization,
in the use of materials, in the prep
aration of wares for shipments, re
ported by the Department of Com
merce and Labor. have been gener-
ally adopted had not the news
papers carried them to the opera
tors of every State
Now a sort of translation is re-
quired in every field Of expert in
vestigation. Science may be exact;
but it is rarely interesting. Tt is
generally regarded as a closed book
by the very persons for whom these
Investigations are conducted, and it
is often wholly incomprehensible
even to those who struggle with 1t.
It is not enough, therefore, that
the findings Of experts shall be set
forth technically. They must be put
in plain English. This has been the
work of certain clerks in each of
many bureaus. 1t has been a work
of money-in-the-bank advantage for
the American nation. The man who
condemns it either does not know
all the facts or shuts his mind to
them
Certain Congressman have per-
mitted themselves to drift into this
latter class. They know that Wash
ington newspaper men cannot rake
over tons Of reports in technical
form. They know that the demand
of news local to the out-of-town
papers forbids that the correspond
ent shall give the time to Govern
ment documents which the transla-
ton Of them would require. But
they jugglc with a phrase, these
press agents" and proceed to pull
down the blinds.
Immediately after the earthquake
and fire in San Francisco three ex-
perts in structural materials were
sent thither TO investigate the ac-
ton of the different materials Of
cous+rupffon under the heat of the
flames. They reported-in the form
Of an exhaustive bulletin. A year
and a half afterward (when non
Governmental engineers had cloud
ed the situe ton with a thousand
conflicting versions and estimates)
a newspaper man found this bulle-
tin. It's value was manifest in its
impartiaity and comprehensive
ness. But it's news interest was so
far gone that the owners. builders,
and tenants of buildings all over
the United States are without adj
vantages at this very moment which
might be theirs beyond doubt if
only that information were at their
elbows.
This is the work which needs a
press agent for the people. 1t is a
work which enlists the cooperation
of every live newspaper man in the
business. When the House under