The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-15
BY JOHN A. SLEICHER,
President and Editor Leslie's
Weekly.

| have long been impressed with the
belief that MI. Carnesie's idea OF ma
uonal. non PARTISAN. non -sectarian news
paper, literally endowed, would be a
great public benefit IL is true as you
recite. that the American newspapers.
as at present conducted. are competent
TO deal with all questions which may
arise, in the best interests OF the people.
but IL is not true that they are thus
uniformly dealt with. Tho tendency TO
place premium on sensational news has
stimulated the Imagination OF the re-
porlers and whctted the appetite OF the
readers for still greater sensations. The
outcome has been the muck -raking and
yellow press.
Many newspapers DO not fairly give
both sides Of public questions. They are
influenced either by personal or partisan
bias or by selfish considera lions as any
other business usually Is. While the edi-
torial page may strive 10 be fair and
just. the business office Is always count
Ing the house
cnce is that the reader and the adrcr>
tiscr. whose patronage supports the pub
lcation. give preference TO the sensa-
tional sheets \ newspaper abundantly y
endowed, so that 1t could be absolutely
fearless in tho expression Of its opin-
ions could afford 10 try the experiment
that the late Henry i. Raymond OF tho
New York Times is said TO have had In
mind Just previous to his untimely death
namely, the employment Of the most tall
entcd and experienced writers on the
rcportorial staff The men who reported
the ry-daY news would thus bring TO
boar. I'm the performance of their tasks
not only the culture OF q higher educa-
ton, but also well seasoned and con-
scrvarive judgment, which would not
tolerate the subicction of the truth TO the
demands of the sensational
The public reads too much and thinks
too little. and therefore writer's for the
press should be thoughtful. judicial
minded, and profoundly impressed with
their responsibility. The public too often
is given altogether erroneous idea,
both Of men and affairs.
4 few wears ago all the press was filed
with laUdationS or our great captains
of industry and the wonderful and wide
spread results OF their energy and enter
prise" The people welcomed them every
where as men Of genius, deserving the
highest honorS. Suddenly the muck raSer
aud the yellow journalist appeared and
the same captains of industry" were
pictured as notorious accumulators OF
tainted wealth. the chief bcncfciarics OF
protective tariff. the opprcSSors OF the
people. the promoters OF trusts and the
creators of high prices. IF defense was
made ii was not printed or of printed. ii
was only an excuse for repeating the
accusations or something worse. The
reign of reason gave way 10 a reign Of
sensation The people applaudcd and
the demagoguc. quick TO take his cue.
appeared. demanding restrictive and op-
prcssive legislation against the railroads
and industrial corporations The statute
books were crowded with new laws. so
hastily and thouEhtIessIy framed that
the courts have been kept busy ever since
10 interpret them. Is 1t
surprising that prosperity halted?
Mr.. Hearst, coming out Of the walks
OF private life. shows to us, through the
success Of his publications and through
his own prominence IN public affairs
what can he done with unlimited capital
by any ono who earnestly and vigorous
~ seeks. through The medium OF the
press 10 impress his views upon the pub
lie. / have no doubt that the captains
OF industry" who have their side To pre-
sent and their arguments to make. would
have stood in an entirely different atti-
tude I'm the public mind IL they had met
the charges and insinuations against
them openly. earnestly and dc6antly. If
they have suffered * is because they
have not done so Deep down in the
human heart resides a sense of fair
play, and TO this tho appeal should have
been made. Errors. mistakes and wrongs
should have been admitted. No business
man and no man il free from them. The
defense should have been set forth so
clearly. logically and conclusivelv that
the great jury Of the people would have
listened TO II. Mr.. Carnegie may think
it is not too late 80 do this now. He is
right in that conclusion, tardv though
II be JOHN a. SLEICIIER