TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1916-08-31
Why the European Catastrophe
Found the American Press UnpreparGd.
The Dsptorabls situation Of the Average Nswspsssrmsn In America ant
Its Relation to the Treatment Of the European War

a message from Berlin containing
the words status quo ante" cried
ont Indignantly: Il wish that fellow
III Berlin would cut out his d.
Dutch expressions"
Il Is a mistake to believe that the
brightest minds In America are en-.
gagged In the newspaper profession.
We should not forget that the
economic situation OF the writer, I'm.
less he Is among the few first rate
men, is truly d%eplorsble. The time
when a compositor asplred to be a
reporter Is past. The former has q
steady job" a sure income and is
protected by his Union, the reporter
Is subject 10 every within Of the City
Editor, whose right 10 Are" and To
hire" Is uuquesti0ned. The host Of
copy readers and other employees
In the editorial department lis just
as badly on, only that not the City
Editor does the Airing. All these
men are without the slightest ecu
ity, the may find themselves on the
street any day. Really, IN Europe
they manage these things better,
especially in Germany, where the
law prescrlbes giving proper notice
TO every employe who is TO be dis.
charged (which notice cannot be
waived and whore any newspaper.
man, not a free lance" is sure of
three months notice. The American
newspapermRn, harried by the ever
present fear Of losing bis position
and ground down under a heavy load
OF work, Is not able to devote much
time to study or to improve himself
mentally. Even the most ambitious
and gifted men soon fall into a
routine that is hopeless, unless they
get out OF the newspaper business III
time, as many do,
When the European catastrophe
broke out, many American news.
papers presented a most pathetic
sight. Except the big dailiesn
mentioned above and a few others,
which In any case would have been
on the side Of England, the Amer.
lean press was bewildered and at
FIRST unable to find its bearings. And
in this psychological moment" the
press service of the English Foreign
Office scored its greatest triumph.
The German cable having been cut,
all information came from London
and Paris and everything was
''doctored' in such a manner that
the American newspapers, unable TO
analyze these reports" we're com,
pletely fooled. Forthwith they re-
peated the tocsin England fights
the battle Of civilization. and once
having declared their position, no
arguments could make them bulge.
Besides, the English had created the
impression that there was not the
slightest chance for the Central
Powers to Win-and the average
American dearly loves 10 be on the
winning side, otherwise the Socialist
party would have 100000 votes
instead OF 900, 900. only the fear
OF throwing away" their vote keeps
many electors, who otherwise would
vote for radicalism, from following
their natural inclination.
There are unmistakable signs that
in a certain part OF the American
press the sober second thought Is
beginning to show itself. Limited as
their mental vision il, even American
editors cannot be fooled all the time.
We do not expect the big dailies"
here to reverse themselves, but a
part Of the provincial press" is
surely breaking away from Downing
Street.
N. Y. German Herold)