The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-14
The Newspaper Reporter.

The history of secrecy makes a
long, black smudge down the page
of time.
Nothing is truer than the saying
that 1.-The wicked love darkness ra-
ther than the light" And this
proverb has a bearing we do not
usually suspect.
We assume it to have reference
to robbers, fcotpads, sneak thieves,
mutinous seamen and home-breaK-
ers. 1t does. 1t also refers, how
ever, to any other group of people
who work in the shade.
You can set it down in your
books that any business for which
the claim is made that it is better
to transact it under cov<H, that 1t
is unwise to have it investigated,
and that the public has no right to
NEEDLE in it, is crooked. Of course,
l do not include the affairs of a
purely personal nature, but only
such matters as have to do with
the public.
The whole history of government,
before the day of newspapers, is
record of tyranny and unjust privi-
lege. So long as the common herd
was ruled by select few, who pre-
sumed to do better by the people
than the people could do for them
selves, the result invariably was
luxury and fine feathers for the
elect and starvation and rags for
the many.
Vested rights thrive in darkness.
1t is only in the light of publicity
hat Human Rights grow.
The story of the Old World, OF
China, ancient Japan, Egypt, Greece
and Rome is the story of secrecy
and outrage.
The story of Liberty and the New
World is the story of the uncen-
sured press.
Whenever you find secret coun-
ellis of kings, diplomats whispering
behind their hands, senators gum
shoeing around and trust magnates
mumbling in back room, you may
be sure that the public is about to
be looted.
The petty criminal is afraid of
the policeman. The big criminal is
afraid of the reporter.
The man who cracks the belated
citizen over the head with lead
pipe fears the law. The man who
sandbags the whole community and
steals $20,000,000 by manipulating
! railway system or the packing in
iustry does not fear the law. He
hires the law. The thing he fears
IS the newspaper reporter.
There never was a bribe-taking
judge ousted from the bench, cor
rupt politician retired to private
life, Governor or Mayor who sold
out to corporations and was exposed
chat did not hate newspaper report
ers above tho rattlesnake.
Ills ID uOI d Ny Ia
law does not govern, it is merely
he rear guard of government. 1t
is a government by publicity. 1t is
newspapers and magazines, the pub
fishing of facts, that govern.
The hopeful element in this
case is that any attempt on the
part of secret cables to own the
press defeats itself. The public is
sure to find it out, and down goes
the circulation. Many speak
lightly, side-stepping publication has
been supported by criminal capital.
out never with conspicuous success.
Absolute Independence, truth-tell-
ing and honesty are the foundation
stones of successful publication
II any kind. Even party organs
and publications backed by a sect
or union are discounted.
We could manage to run along
without the distinguished gentlemen
who run our finances, make our
laws and regulate our morals, per-
haps, but suppress the newspaper
reporter and we should be tempted
to say:
"Then bear me from the harbors
mouth, wild wave;
I'll seek another shore"
Be kind, then, to the reporter.
Take him in and tell him the truth
And if you feel you must lie, be
careful to make a mighty good job
Of it.-New York Globe and Com
mercial Advertiser.