El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-29
HOW THE NEWSPAPERS
FIGHT.
yellow" ARTICLES IN SMALL TYPE
Last of Series on English Elections

printed long accounts of the heckling
of peers and stories OF the unpOpularity
Of the Tory leaders They made no
effort to refute the arguments of the
other party by publishing news articles
giving the facts in the controversy. but
cOntented themselves with long and
heavy editorials about the constitu-
tiOnal questions involved
The news columns were devoted en-
tirely TO the smallest items of incense
quential news from the various local
fghts-not one in a thousand Of
which could get by the desk of an
American news editor.
Use Strong Language.
The Conservative newspapers were
much more effective in their style OF
campaigning. although they laid them
selves open to the charge Of represent
ing the yellowest of all yellow journal
ism.
To read stout Tory paper during
the campaign. one would have believed
that the German invasion could not
possibly be postponed for more than
two days; that the whole country was
in financial ruin and wreck; that the
radical leaders were all anarchists
with designs on the life and property
Of all the rich; and that another Liberal
victory would be a license to the mob
to plumber and sack No. American
newspaper, in the worst onslaughts
against political burglars" has ever
used stronger language than was APP
pHed~every day in scores Of Conserva-
tive newspapers to the Liberal leaders.
Personal Views
At the very last of the campaign. Just
as the polls were opened. The Times"
the most staid, dignifed and solemn of
all Journals, compressed its views into
this sentence: The Liberals appa-
rently rely upon the black bread fc-
ton, at which educated Germany is
laughing, on pension lies, on impu-
dent appeals to every form of ignor-
ance. and on the invective Of the gut
ter"
Probably one-half of the space de-
voted to politics in the newspapers was
given over 70 cur old friends, '.P. B.
Publico, and ''Veritas." Sometimes
these communications were interesting,
but usually they were merely long
winded expositions of personal views
or labored and extended explanations Of
trivial incidents.
The organs. on neither side made any
use Of the news article bearing on
controverted policies. Although both
parties maintained effective literary
bureaus and sent out great quantities
OF exceedingly attractive campaign
documents and arguments, the news
papers made no use of this material
except when they reproduced some pic
torial poster, or when they quoted from
such documents for the purpose Of in
Wiling the public TO purchase them in
pamphlet form
Interviews Not Used
The interview" the great American
channel of distributing political news
and views is not used at all. The pub
lie men make all their announcements
and arguments in their speeches; and
If occasion demands an immediate
statement ii is made in the form OF a
letter TO some political friend. and the
letter is then made public through the
press.
One difficulty about the interview in
England is that the ordinary newspaper
reporters are not given that confidence
which is reposed in them by American
political leaders. This is not because
the British reporters are untFustworthy,
for the opposite is the case 1t is be-
cause the stratifed and classified con-
stitution Of British society makes the
London reporter get his news from the
fourth under assistant secretary. instead
or from the cabinet member himself .
uOeS the washington correspondent
Exceptions are. made, Of course. in ia
Nor OF the most prominent journalists.
Many Repetitions.
me Tory papers made the most of
Lloyd-George's escape in policeman's
clothing, from the mob in Birming
nam, where he was to address a pro-
Boer meeting, and continually re-
printed 1t The repeated over and over.
AFTER many denials what was known
as the Lord Saviie charge" or the
Lord Savile lie." according TO vour
politics. that Lloyd George had cheered
British defeat in the South African
war while in his seat in the commons.
At the instance of the chancellor lord
Savlle retracted the charge, but the
press kept il up.
Inc Liberal newspapers, supporting |
the government, poked fun at the noble !
lords in a fashion which would have /
done credit TO Americas Ifveliest iour