The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17

relation between cause and effect-in-
terprets current history Public opinion
is the controlling force in a republic, and
the newspaper gives to the journalist be-
yond everyone else the opportunity to af-
feet public opinion. Others reach his
readers through the courtesy of the news
paper, but the owner of the paper has
full access to his own columns and does
not fear the blue pencil. The journalist
occupies the position of watchman upon
tower. He is often able to see dangers
which are not observed by the general
public, and because he can see these dam
gers he is in position of greater respon-
sibility. is he discharging the duty which
superior opportunity imposes upon him?
l might mention number of temptations
which come to the journalist, but shall
content myself with few First, there
is the temptation to conceal the name of
real owner Of the paper The proprietor
of paper should be known. but his iden-
tity is not always disclosed. The corpor-
ate entity which plays so large a part in
the business world entered the newspaper
field. The names of the stockholders
were not published and we did not always
know what individuality directed the pa
pers policy. Year by year the disclosures
have brought to light the fact that the
predatory interests are using the news
papers and even some magazines for the
defense of commercial iniquity and for
the purpose of attacking those who lift
their voices against favoritism and priv
ilege. A financial magnate Interested in
the exploitation of the public secures
control of a paper; he employs business
managers, managing editors, and repor-
torial staff He does not act openly or
in the daylight, but through group of
employees who. are the visible but not the
real directors. The reporters are in
stiucted to bring in the kind of news
which will advance the enterprises owned
by the man who stands back of the paper
and If the news brought in is not en-
tirely satisfactory it is doctored in the
office. The columns of the paper are
filled with matter written not for the
purpose of presenting facts as they ex-
ist. but for the purpose of distorting facts
and misleading the public. The editorial
writer's, whose names are generally
unknown to the public, are told what to
say and what subject to avoid They are
instructed to extol the merits of those
who are subservient to the interests rep
resented by the paper and to misrepre-
sent and traduce those who dare to criti-
else or oppose the plans of those who
hide behind the paper Such journalists
are members of kind of "blackharfd So
ciety;" the are assassins. hiding in am
in, do, ,>lr.
worst of it is that the readers have no
way of knowing when change takes
place in the ownership of such paper
Editorial poison, like other poisons, can
be administered more successfully if the
victim is in ignorance as to who admin
listers 1t.
The journalist who would fully perform
his duty must be not only incorruptible,
but ever alert, for those who are trying
to misuse the newspapers are able to de-
ceive 1.-The very elect" Whenever any
movement is on foot for the securing of
legislation desired by the predatory inter-
ests. or when restraining legislation is
threatened, news bureaus are established
at Washington, and these news bureaus
furnish to such papers as will use them
free reports, daily or weekly as the case
may be, from the national capital-reports
which purport to give general news, but
which in fact contain arguments in sup
port of the schemes which the bureaus
are organized to advance. This ingenious
method of misleading the public is only a
part of the general plan which favor
holding and favor-seeking corporations
pursue.
The profession for which | was trained
the law-presents another line of tempta-
tons. The courtroom is a souls market
where many parter away their ideals in
the hope of winning wealth or fame. Law
yers sometimes boast of the number of
men whose acquttal they have secured,
when they knew them to be guilty. and
of advantages won which they knew their
clients did not deserve. / do not UNDER
stand how a lawyer can so boast, for he
is an officer of the court and, as such, is
. sworn to assist in the administration of
justice. When a lawyer has helped his