The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-12-07
llll. "a n ton S Ifesg
zlnozlyz 7lols NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
N ~ . T7775T-7 z


An old and experienced editor, who
has served IN responsible capacities
on Various Pittsburg d3tly neyspa,
3lpsss p mo- sure whether the rule
against the publicatida ayiaops
contributions should be strictly en-.
forced or not. In a communication 70
The Courier on this subject, he says:
Is 1t really wise for a newspaper to
reject indlscriminat elysSll annoy iiious
communications I? l used To- think In
Harmony with the above extract from
| The CourieEs on This subject but have
changed tiymini. Persons who write
to the papers, for pnblication,,or mere
| ~ for the private Information Of the
editor, should Of course sign their
names, either to be printed with their
communications. OF. as basis for au.
thority for publication, But to most
rules there are exceptions, and this
rule of newspaper offices against
ananymity is one that should not al.
ways be observed; and 1t is not al.
ways observed. either. Contributions
on abstract questions. wherein is in.
volved no aspersion against character
or reputation need not, of.necessity. be
signed. These may often be quite in.
teresting and important; but the writ.
ers may not care to be known either
to the editor or, the public No doubt
many capable women would write en-.
tertainingly for the press if,they could
do so without disclosing their identi.
ty. Many anonymous communications
o. an unprintable character, because
Of possible libel. through the ignor.
ance of tho writer, may contain tho
germ of some very important infor.
nation which the editor could verify
and properly give to the public.
Will you forgive me for an appa-
rent intrusion on your function II
suggest that editors. instead of print
ing notices that no attention will be
paid to anonymous communications,
should say in their papers that, while
anonymous communications are not al
ways to be. approved. and will be Ger.
tainly ignored when manifestly design.
ed to serve some unworthy purpose,
they will still not be discarded with.
out reading, nor without investigation,
where merit may seem to be appa.
rent? 80
There is no difference between an
anonymous Communication in writing
and one In person. "a reporter. may
overhear Conversation between two
men on the street. or in a car, any.
where, indeed, aboutssomething likely
to.be Of public interest, great or small.
Of course he would not print what he
hears without inquiry and verlfcation,
In this very way much that is OF pub.
lie interest and benefit gets into print.
In this connection%I was told the
other day by an experienced and trust
worthy reporter an Interesting story,
one Of many I have heard illustrating
ways by which men who. wish to keep
themselves in the background get
things into print; and yet are in the
position to say emphatically that they
did not give the reporter a single. word
Of information. nor talk to him about
1t directly or indirectly.
The reporter was in the habit Of Wis.
itlng the office Of this man about
certain hour every day in the course of
his search for news. The community
was a good deal interested at the time
in certain public matter of great i'm
portance. On this particular day the
reporter and the gentleman talked to-
gether for few minutes on casual
topics. when the latter excused him.
sell; by saying he was obliged to fiji an
engagement and would not be back
for couple of hours.
AS he was putting on his hat and
walking toward the doorway. he turn,
ed and said to the reporter: Make
yourself at home, Jimmy. II you
should find ANYTHING in this office that
you think would make news item for
your paper you are perfectly welcome
to It"
"I.thought at first the man was ,iok.
ing said Jimmy, for the only things
in the office that i could see were the
chairs. desks, tables and the locked
bookcases. / grinner 10 myself and aft.
er spending a1few minutes simplifying
some notes in my book put on my hal
and was about to leave the Office too,
when Ijespied letter file lying on tho
office table in the corner. / walked
over TO the table, opened the file and
examined the contents which were
copies Of letters that had passed be.
tween two very prominent men con.
tanning inside Information Of, the. most
vital character about The matter. then
theStenter of siIcll ctIisnicuoiiS' nnf,lfc1