The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1920-12-01
NEWS AND HEADLINES,

T is often the boast of certain individuals that
they are content to have their newspaper
reading consist of "glancing over the head
lnes"-and they insulted if one venture to
suggest that such reading may not constitute a
liberal newspaper education However, recent
publications have proved that reading of head
lines not only does not give a complete under
standing, but that it may even lead to very err
roneous conceptions of things they The
aim of the headline writer is first and foremost
to write good looking and "catchy" headline,
and secondarily to crowd into it something of
truth. The faacy lies in that so often the truth
is only half truth or the suggestion of truth
and therefore not to be trusted. The trials of a
"head' writer many and various-and his
faults excusable. But there is no excuse for
the reader who is so casual in his search for the
happenings of the world that he is content to
trust the headlines for his information
The Outlook of November II has three interest
ing examples of what may happen to the general
information of the public through this system
or lack of system in the daily reading of news
"ln his much-discussed Des Mones speech, Mr..
Harding said in reply to Mr. Cox, and referring
to the Covenant of the League of Nations, 81 am
not for carification but for rejection" The news
paper headlines reported this statement as fol-
IT,.
Readers jumped to the conclusion that this meant
that he against all association with other
civilized nations in attempt to enforce interna-
tional law. But if they had read the speech it
self capped by these startling headlines they
would have found that Mr.. Harding was referr-
ing, when he used the word "rejection" simply to
the Covenant of the League of Nations as framed
at Paris, for he continued with these words GAS
possible T cbaI oI1 n.
with the best minds in the United States, and es-
pecially shall consult in advance with the Sen
ate, with whom by the terms of the Constitution
l shall be bound to counsel and without whose
consent no such international association can be
formed, to the end that we shall have an Associa-
ton of Nations for the promotion of international
peace"
Another instance of misleading headlines is
found in the report of Mr.. Harding's significant
speech at Marion, November 4, to a group of
his nelghbors who had gathered to congratulate :
him on his victory. The newspaper headlines re-
porting this speech read follows: Harding de-
clares the Versailles League is now deceased"
The natural inference of those who went no fur
Their than the headlines was that Mr. Harding was
rejoicing over the fact that the movement for in |
ternatlonal peace had received a final and fatal
blow. Those, however, who, with a justifiabe
dstrust of headline writer's, went on and read the
complete address, found that what he said was
this:
Il didn't see much sorrow in your faces as I
had apprehended. It's not that you or question
the desire of America to play its part it's not
that we question the high ideals of those who
were responsible for the Versailles Covenant You
just didn't want surrender of the United States
OF America, you wanted America to go on under
American ideals. That's why you didn't care for
the League which is now deceased.
America is playing great part now. America
is healing the heart of the old world tonight as
no other nation, but there is more to do There is
new world relationship, and when the next Adj
comes into power we're going to plav
our part. We're going to ask for nations asso-
clated together in justice, but it shall be an as
soclatlon which surrenders nothing of American
freedom.