The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-11-22

rant the surveillance of the press rather like 1t
or, at least, have the intelligence to apprecl-
ate the impeling force behind the newspapers
the demand of the public for intimate bnowl
edge of the daily affairs of the man of the hour.
Newspapers are published with weather
eye on the circulation. They afford better
news service than the profits of the business
warrant; they publish what the publishers
think their readers wish, and they circulate at
hours to suit the convenience of the subscribers.
Being published at hours to suit the subscrb-
ers, the people from whom the news is secured
are often disturbed at hours inconvenient to
them. There is no other possible way to mann
tain the standard of efficiency of the American
daily press.
The press claims no rights in the premises;
but in view of its public capacity 1t does claim
a special license, and this license is generally
recognized. If the line of privilege sometimes
is overstepped the whole institution is not to be
condemned; for other people make more griev-
Gus mistakes, and have not the excuse OF haste
and zeal for their presumption. Moreover,
there are sufficient daily reminders to keep
the newspaperman well within'bounds.
In controversion of f. Iopkinson Smiths in
dictment of the press is the fact, that if you
would see the newspaperman treated best, go
to the cities where he is most importunate and
the stress of competition drives him the hard
est The general manager of the largest street
railway system in Kentucky will get up at any
hour of the night to see a reporter and treat
him as an honored guest. The owner of the
chief theater of the state never fails to insist
on the reporters, who call at his office, going
i'm to see the show, "for moment anyway"
and feels hurt if the reporter doesnt faithfully
promise TO ''come around whenever you want
to see a show" The fame of many prominent
man in this great commonwealth rests on no
more substantial basis than the texture of "a
newspapers pages, and, sometimes-O, frall
humanity-the creature of the press, made fam
Gus by some "cheap reporter, desplteiully
uses the power that made him. Others, Justify
ing the faith reposed in them by the mlnions OF
the press, by their constancy, never fail in their
friendship and are rewarded in a thousand
ways. One Kentuckian, to honor whom 1t
pleases each succeeding administration, has
| been known to leave his bed at midnight to
greet a reporter, who on his arrival, would lind
before the fire two easy chairs, thanking table
on which were always cake and VINE.
The result-Reporters are human, and the
interview was unconsciously colored by kind
! ~ spirit begotten in the reportoral mind by the
generous hospitality of "A wise man. kentuck-
ians from one end of the state to another, have
thus been made acquainted with one of the
tested toward everybody with whom it came N
contact-ncuding reporters.
The unfortunate, who accepts f. Hopkinson
Smith idea of the newspaper reporter will
suffer for it. Respect his license; treat him a'
if he were IA gentleman, which he generally is
Nay, more, regard him as one possessing the
attributes of ubiquty and inevitableness lie
is the destiny, WHO presides over the fatefu
proposition. Your treatment of him will de
eide whether what he does is ''to you" or 'fOl
you"