The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-04-19
(Offielsl City, State and County
Newspaper
Forelgn Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER, BREWER
Incorporated)
NEW YORK BOSTON
An Amazing Inside Story

NAlANOA ROAo0SNJ
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
An Amazing Inside Story
Not the least amazing part Of the
story about the Lindbergh kidnapping
is the manner in which the American
newspaper profession has abandoned
one Of it, most precious traditions IN
an effort to help the Lindberghs re-
gain their child.
As told by Editor and Publisher,
magazine published for the profes-
sion. men who have spent their adult
lives searching for news and telling It
to the world have deliberately Joined
In suppressing news OF the search
simply because publication may have
been disadvantageous to the Lind
berghs.
The magazine cites numerous cases
In which news has been suppressed or
In which the entire newspaper pro-
fession has given IT. whole-hearted
cooperation and says others cannot
now be told because conditions which
made it desirable to withhold them
from print still prevail. Incidentally,
It mentions the fact that the press
associations and newspapers have Of
fered to "lay off" the story entirely II
Lindbergh wishes them to do so. So
far, however, he has been unable to
Zee any advantage to himself or to the
search for the child in such an ar
rangement. The offer was made
strictly In an effort to aid In getting
the child back, despite the fact that
the commodity which newspapers sell
Is news and the further fact that peo-
pie everywhere are daily asking for
information about the Lindbergh case,
one of the greatest news stories Of the
generation.
In other cases, the newspapers have
published stories which were deliber-
,ately misleading in an effort to aid
dn the kidnap negotiations. They did
so, even when they knew the truth,
because Col. Lindbergh asked them to
assist him. AS published by Editor
and Publisher. the picture Is far diff
sferent from that given out by Gov
.ernor Harry Moore of New Jersey
when he said, early in the search,
that the newspapers were complicat-
Ing matters.
Back OF that suggestion there is the
STORY of numerous clashes between
newspapermen on the one side and
the governors office and the State
police on the other. The background
for this misunderstanding, probably.
is the dislike which newspapermen
have Of being lied to-and they caught
first the governors secretary and
later the state police in numerous
dies
This story includes recitation of
overlapping by the police In an ef-
bort to establish an invisible censor
ship Of news reports.
] In reading this amazing story, we
learn that at least two newspapers
1were fully aware OF the activities Of
Dr. J. F. Condor, Lindbergh's negotia-
Tor and sponsor Of the famous "Jafsie'
notes, weeks before DR.. Condon's
name ever was mentioned in print.
sOne newspaperman assisted and col
elaborated In this work and knew al.
tof the details all Of the time.
|. Altogether, as one reads the story
OF how the newspapers have cooper
ated and helped In the effort to re-
store the child to its parents, he finds
q source Of new pride in one Of the
Oldest and greatest Of the professions.
Journalism as it exists In New York
As the most highly competitive pro-
Kession in the world. The life-blood
OF the newspaper business is the "hot"
Story which stirs public interest. It
Is reassuring to learn that the news
paper standards In such circum-
1tances are such that cognizance can
H. taken of the rights and interests
Of others, even though the newspaper
Is pledged to serve the interests o:
the general public.
. The Lindbergh case probably repre-
rents the most complete abandonment
1o9 the practices-or even the sugges-
1kaon-of so-called yellow Journalism
that this generation has known.