The Washington herald., 1910-05-11
Accuracy of Interviews.

Representative Tnson, Of Connecticut |
was much annoyed the other day over
being misquoted in a press dispatch sent |
out from Washington regarding the po-
litical situation in Connecticut. There /
is q report that several members OF Con- /
gress have decided hereafter to grant no
newspaper interviews except over their
own signatures. thus, as they believe.
avoiding the danger of being misquoted
or having the meaning Of their remarks
misconsuued.
All this would be very satisfactory II
& were not for the fact that an inter
view in almost every case IS Of more
value 10 the member Of Congress than
II IS TO the newspaper. Newspapers. as
a rule. desire accuracy. and few Of them
knowingly misquote any one.
II has often happened that a man in
public life gave out an interview which
in language and meaning was printed
exactly as given. and yet the next day
a formal denial would be made. Mem
what they say in a rapid-fre conversa-
ton. or in the heat Of argument. some
times fails TO bear inspection on close
scrutiny.
Every member Of Congress knows that
the proofs OF the Congressional Record
are often revised. and that a statement
made on the floor Of the House or
Senate is far from that which appears
the next morning in the Official pub
lication. II members of Congress find It
necessary 10 revise their speeches after
they are in type, is It not logical
conclusion that they sometimes regret
statements made for publication after
they have more time TO analyze the full
import Of their views?
A reporter who is not reliable IS not
wanted. and. in fact. his position is a
short-llved one. The members OF the
| press at the United States Capital are
among the most painstaking men in their
profession, and the great majority Of
Congressman recognize this fact. Men
/ In public life appreciate the conditions
under which newspaper men are forced
to work. and when an error does creep
in. good-natured tolerance IS best for all
| concerned.
Few public officials holding elective Of
! fee can arbitrarily fix rules for the
newspapers. Publicity, especially for
! righteous conduct, is a valuable asset.
/ and criticism when merited is much bet
! ter than silence. The newspapers act as
! go-bctweens, enlightening both the man
in public life and his constituent; each
learns the views and opinions Of the
ether through the medium Of the daily
press.
! Interviews are a most convenient form
| Of presenting your views before a large
clientele. The interviewer usually makes
the man say not what he actually saws,
but what he would say. More often an
interview is tempered and toned than
! arc the views exaggerated. The opinions
Of public men are put in more logical
! sequence and in more attractive way
oftentimes than when originally uttered.
A good writer seeks to make his matter
accurate and effective. To do this he
may transpose sentences and phrases;
but this is rarely done for the purpose
Of injuring or mutilating the thought
The great majority OF Congressmen
know and appreciate this. There is no
objection to the signed interview. In
fact. there is practically not a newspaper
in the country that would not prefer
having the statement In typewriter
form, with the signature at the bottom
Then there would be no danger Of mis-
quotation.