The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1916-04-06

9TH Herald. lie sen
Tor Preston died some years ago
The other day the son, in going over
his fathers papers, found the manu-.
script of an address on Washington
newspaper life which contained sto-
ries OF men whose names were known
by the nation and which still are
known
The address of Correspondent Pres.
ton of which the manuscript was found
was delivered to students of the
Georgetown university and In general
its subject may be put down as expe-
riences in the life of a Washington
correspondent Some of the things
which Mr.. Preston said concerning
newspaper work have their application
as sharp today as they did in the elder
day Here are some extracts from his
address and some stories with them
which make their own points felt and
make salient their lessons to newspa-
per men and to others of today:
In 1872 reporter writes this.
Hamilton Fish. secretary of state, re-
turned to the city yesterday. The
city editor tells him to put cap head
on all his matter. But this only
makes line. Never mind. put head
on it. The reporter did so. 1t read,
A distinguished visitor.
Il do not suppose that three words
ever caused an entire administration
with General Grant at its head, to tear
its hair and swear as those words did.
Was it malicious? The secretary said
1t was and it cost the man his place.
The president and the cabinet all sum-
mer that year remained away from
Washington except the secretary of
state. He kept at his desk and only
absented himself two weeks. To be
gazetted as distinguished visitor
was enough to cause him anger. espe-
eially in the so-ealled organ of the adj
ministration. He saw the force of the
satire in the heading and the reporter
made him an enemy for life.
ut is said by some papers that are
independent, and therefore not bound
by party ties. that they are fearless
champions of the peoples rights. Per-
haps they were at one time, and have
come under the yoke of the fear of
losing patronage and influence in their
latter days. The late Jere Black told
me story how when he was secre-
tary of state at the close of James
Buchanan administration he met the
elder Bennett, founder of the Herald,
in President Buchanan's library one
evening. The growth Of the paper, its
great popularity and its extended cir.
culation, were the subjects of CONVEX
sation. Mr.. Bennett accounted for all
this by saying it was the peoples pa
per and the populace in turn showed
its appreciation by advertising in and
patronizing it. 1t was, | think. the
first of this class of journals. and nat
urally SO stern and firm a Democrat
as Mr. Black was, he looked with dis
favor on any innovation that threat
ened the peace and perpetuity of his
party.
/ arose, said Mr. Black, and with
all the yehemence of my nature | de-
nounced such journalism. saw the
president was little annoyed, but
the occasion and provoeation were too
great for me to keep still To my
surprise the owner of the paper did
not appear to notice what had said.
This irritated me and as | had gone
that far | was determined to say all
that l thought of this mountebank in
modern journalism. | continued, Mr..
President cannot find words suffi-
GENTLY strong to express my supreme
contempt for man who calls such
kind of journalism popular Why sir.
If en- that day of days when that most
momentous trial the world has ever
known took place before Pontius Pi-
late, and the sentence of death was
pronounced on the SoL OF God, if the
Herald had been printed in Jerusalem,
1t would have been on the side of the
people, of the rabbe, and doubtless it
would have appeared in extra form.
with blacklist type, and biggest letters
repeating the words of its popular sup