The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-07-29

reflected on his dignity. or something, ana
let out q roar about 1t that echoed all the
way from Washington to New York. par
ticularly after q clever editorial writer on
q Washington paper had picked 1t up and
had gently poked fun at the statesman.
This eminent lawmaker wrote a letter
to the New York paper that printed the
story originally. d%enouncing the Joke as a
.'monstrous fabrication, a tissue OF false
hoods and a few other horrifying things.
and demanded the discharge Of the re-
porter who was guilty OF this lese-majeste
He wrote another letter to the edito OF
the Washington paper that had reprinted
and commented on the Joke. using IAN
guage just as high flown. and worked
himself up to a spectacular rage about 1t.
Now, the Joke, harmless and ~laughable.
was true. 1t had happened. The reporter
who wrote 1t originally proved thai. 80
he wasn't discharged. Then, being a very
human person, he quietly set about get
ting even. He went to the other reporters
who covered the House of Representatives
for the New York papers and explained
the case to them. From that minute that
eminent lawmaker began to get his pun
ishment. 1t made no difference what he
did, there never was a line about him
turned in by any OF those House reporters
for the New York papers,. He could talk
until he was black in the face, and when
he looked at the papers from his home city
next morning he found that he had been
ignored. So far as New York vas con-
cerned he might just as well have been a
member of the house of delegates of Fan
ibar. He was obscured. He didn't count.
He stood it for a time and then began
to squeal. Squealing did ne good. Those
young men went on with their revenge.
They kept him out Of the papers. 1t was a
silent but effective affair, for they said
nothing, and the chiefs Of the bureaus
knew nothing Of the feud and did not mix
in 1t. After a time he came around and
begged, this eminent lawmaker, n they
let up on him. He had had his lesson and
his punishment. Think OF an eminent law
maker who cannot get even his name in
his home papers! That was revenge for
you-r-r-r-r-evenge! l.,
There nave been other instances Of the
same kind, and it is likely there will be
more of them. Statesmen h have had
little experience In Washington or else
where, and some who have been here a
cultivate them for their personal and
~statesmanlike qualities. The truth is, the
reporters go to the statesmen because they
are sent n 1t Is their business to go.
No reporter is so pressed for amusement
that he would talk to the average states
man for a minute. He can find more en-
PERTAINING things to do. When the states
men get u CONSlueTlH6 IHo WLlOlc d11dlE
a business matter there never will be any
trouble Of any kind. Reporters make mis-
takes, but so do statesmen. The balance
Of truth is generally on the side of the.
reporter. And when a statesman gets up
In his seat and %denounces something he
has seen in a paper-"my attention has
been directed is the phrase-as a ma
licious falsehood, the probabilities are
hat 1t is no such thing. but that the
statesman, in order to cover himself IL
obliged to d%enounce it.
IT am worried to know how 1 shall treat
the newspaper men, said a new cabinet
member. Treat them just as you would
treat any other visitor. If you have any,
thing to say, say 1t. If you haven't. say
that" advised a friend, which is the only
sensible way OF looking at it. Still, as .
general bit of advice to statesmen 1t may
be added hat there is absolutely nothing
in trying to whip reporters. In the first
place, the chances are you cannot do it.
In the second place. II you do do 1t you
will get the worst of it-this, OF course.
applying to real reporters and not to the
scum of the business, the takers and
blackmailers and grafters, who should be
whipped on every occasion, and in which
enterprise any real reporter will Join with
any req statesman at any time.