Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-03
Thy Ora. williams.1

pes Moines, July 3.-Not long age
| a reporter for Des Moines newspaper
was seeking material for sto:v IN
T.. the banking department of the state,
| and was told he could tuSt write all
| the good things he could think of about
Iowa banks and not miss il, that there
was nothing bad to say and everything
good and 1t was notable that there had
been no bank failures, nobody in
! trouble, everything smooth for many
| long days.
Huh" he replied, "Noboayd read
that kind of story. What is wanted
is a sensation of some kind
All of which may be jehatable. But
1t appears that a good Zeal of CD called
newspaper reporting proceeds on the
theory that nothing is good news un-
less 1t is bad news. especially as it
pertains to any public office or under
taking. Some recent lustrations of
where this policy will lead have been
noted here.
For instance, a story put afloat to
the effect that the state expenses have
increased by several millions the past
year, that the state is spending vast
sums of money more than usual and
the inference left, of course. that there
was eXtravaga nce and waste and need
less use OF public money. w lille II
was not 50 explicitly stated it was left
to be easily inferred this was due to
an increase in the cost OF running the
state government, an enormous in
crease in cost OF every thing at the state
house. The statements were So absurd
as 10 cause some amusement among
all who know anything al all about
the activities OF the state. As mat
ter OF fact, as everyone knows, much
of that which passes 10: Cost of The
state government appears as nothing
else than the state as disbursin:,
agent for the state institutions in Their
relations to the counties in caring ior
the wards OF the counties. Much OF il
represents support OF the colleges. ag-
ricultural extension, state aid for
schools, the militia company allow |,
ances, pay of judges all over the state, I
etc. But many persons would hastily |
reach a conclusion which does not in
clude consideration OF these things.
till. the truth about it would not have
made a good story.
The other day. as was published at
the time, the governor submitted TO
the attorney general some matters re
ance department upon the change be- I
ing made, which has occurred accord
ing to law. This was done as much
for the benefit of the new commissioner
as for the old. 1t was perfectly ma
tural and proper thing TO do. II showed
that all state officials desire 10 pro-
coed with important changes slowly
and carefully and desire to conserve
the interests of the state. But two
days after the facts We're published
about the submission of the matter to
the attorney general, the discovery was
made. or at least announced with great
show of senSauionaliSm, that the state
auditor was going TO refuse TO give up
his office and had insisted on not
turning over the insurance business. In
due time the facts all came out
straight and clean, the transfer was
made in perfect harmony and every one
was satisfied. But the facts did not
give ground for much OF stroy where
no news is good unless it is bad. STATE
Auditor Bleakly has never been dis
turber in state affairs even tho he
would refuse TO put his employees on a
time clock basis. There was no ex
cuse for trying to make 1t appear he
was assuming an attitude of selfshly
standing IN the way OF carrying out
the law. Mr.. Bleakly has handled the
insurance matters most excellently and
Mr.. English will maintain the high
standard.
Another Illustration of a somewhat
strained attempt to make q sensation
where there is none relates to the Of
ice Of state treasurer. Reflections have
,een cast upon State Treasurer Brown
without any reason. II is true that
asst year he was very i'll for a long
ime and his friends became apprehen-
tive, but SO, also, was State Treasurer
Tilbertson quite i'll while IL office and
unlimited 10 an operation in a Chi
ago hospital. AS matter of fact, Mr..
Brown is a quiet and painstak!ng state
fficial, who minds his own business
md does the work ar hand He IS
present more often than any other at
he meetings Of the council He has 9
lad more business to attend to than
lad his predecessors and he has done
Z. But he does not run typewriter
Tor is he an expert bookkeeper, and
eally ii is hardly TO be expected Of the