The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-17

I forms MS readers az 10 what IS go
ing On, ane ne points out the relation
between eause and efTect-~interprets
tcurrent history. Public opinion Is the
controlling force in a republic. and
the newspaper gives 10 the journalist.
beyond every one else, the opportuni-
ity 10 affec. public opinion. Others
reach h.s readers through the cour-
tesy III the newspaper. but the owner
of the paper fas full access to his
own columns, and does not fear the
blue pencil The journalist occupies
tower. lie IS often able To see dam
gers which are not observed by the
general public. and because he can
see thefe dangers he II In a position
/ of greater responsibility. Is he dis
ichargtng the duty which superior OPP
1portunitv imposes upon him. / might
mcntt lon a number cf temptations
which come 10 the journalist. but l
I shall content myself with a few.
First. there is the temptation to con-
ceai the name OF the real owner OF
the paper The proprietor OF a paper
should be known, bat his identity Is
not always disclosed. The corporate
, entity which plays SO large part in
1.-The business world entered the news
paper field. The names Of the stock
holders were not published and we
I did not always know what individ-
iuAiity directed the papers policy.
( Year by year the disclosures were
/ brought to light the fact that the
predatory interests are using the
inewspa pers and even some magazines
for the defense OF commercial iniquity
and for the purpose of attacking those
who lift their voices against favoritism
and privilege A financial 1nagnate
interested in the exploitation of the
public secures control OF a paper; he
femploys business managers, managing
editors. and a reporsorial staff. lie
5 does not act openly or In the daylight
but through IA group Of employees who
are the visible but not the real direc-
TORS. The reporters are instructed to
bring in the kind OF news which will
advance the enterprises owned by the
man who stands back Of the paper.
and IL the news brought in is not en-
tireiy satisfactory 1t Is doctored in the
office The columns of the paper are
filled with matter. written not for the
purpose Of presenting facts as they
exist, but for the purpose or distorting
facts and misleading the public. The
editorial writers, whose names are
generally unknown to the public. are
told what TO say and what subjects to
avoid They are instructed TO extol
the merits of those who are subservi-
ent TO the interests represented by
the paper, and TO mtsrepresent and
trafuce those who dare to criticise
! or oppose the plans of those who hide
behind the paper. Such Journalists
are members of kind of "Blackhand
society: they are assassins. hiding
| ia ambush and striking in the dark;
and the worst of it Is that the readers
have no way of knowing when a
change takes place In the ownership
of such a paper. Editorial poison.
like other .poisons, can be admins
tered more successfully II the victim
| Is in ignorance as to who administers
it.
The Journalist who would fully per-
| form his duty must he not only In
icorruptible. but ever alert. for those
who. are, trying to, misuse the news
papers are able to deceive "the very
elect" Whenever any movement IL
| on foot for the securing of legislation
desired by the predatory interests. or
when restraining legislation Is threat
ened news bureaus are established
at Washington. and these news bu-
ireaus furnish to such papers as viii
I use them free reports. daily or week.
Iiy, as the case may be. from the ma
tional capital-~reports which purport
to give general news. but which In
fact contains arguments In support OF
| the schemes which the bureaus arc
organized to advance. This ingenious
method Of misleading the public Ia
only a part OF the general plan which
favor holding and favor-seeking cor
lporations pursue.
The profession for which was
trained--the law--presents another
lime Of temptations. The courtroom Ia
la souls market. where many barter
away their ideals In the hope OF win
| ming wealth or fame. Lawyers some
times boast OF the number OF men
whose acquittal they have secured,
when they knew them to be guilty. and
| of advantages won which they knew
their clients did not deserve. do
not understand how 4 lawyer can so
boast. for he Is an officer Of the court
land. as such, ID sworn to assist In the
administration OF Justice. When a
lawyer has helped his client to OBJ
Itain all that his client ID entitled to:
HE has done hls full duty ~ Il lawyer,
ssnd a a. guea bsycnd thts ~ gose