| Show RUNNING TO FORMS FORM MADOO is running to form w wit wil tb SECRETARY S his usual fidelity Brought to hook book for misrepresenting resenting the administration currency altitude 1 t tr tI r I Danker Banker Reynolds Re of Chicago the treasury tIO attacks tho rho accuracy of the thee newspaper reports of Mi Hi f. f I Reynolds Reynolds' remarks Like Liko every indiscreet crave crane sinco since tho printing press was vas invented tho Secretary of the Treasury avoids a wigging from tho b by impeaching the veracity and accuracy of tho the newspaper news paper men who reported 11 Mr r Reynolds Reynolds' remarks athe n a nt the bankers conference Tho Tim number of tho those o vh who talk unwisely and too much then evade responsibility by b denying their published remarks is is legion it i ithe i ithe the least admirable and mid most comm common m form of poltroonery pol pal poltroonery e extant in tho the civilized world today The treasury secretary is forced to seek seck re refu ugo B somewhere A leading lending Chicago banker reported tithe ti tithe to the ilie bankers conference last ast week certain remarks b by 1 Secretary McAdoo promising i of the a ad administration administration ministration certain modifications in the current currency m measure a. a uro Coincident ally Secretary Bryan published a letter reaffirming lri m own and the Presidents President's unalterable unalterable un un- alterable adherence to tho the bill as now constructed Mr dilemma was quickly perceptible it way Was obvious that he ho must either endure a reprimand for foi folbe being be indi indiscreet creet ox or deny Bony the tho remarks We Wo predicted Mr would repudiate Reynolds although w wo should have hao known better hotter He shows the white whito feather by dony denying Dg the accuracy of oJ I the the- remarks m attributed to Mfr Mr Reynolds and attacking attacking attack attack- I ing inS the tho newspapers and the newspaper reporters bec be be- the of this c m he did not dArn dare question veracity great get gr Chicago banker It suffices su ices to say Bay only that thai the tire Chicago OMeago newspapers all agreed with almost letter lettel perfect accuracy as rna to tv what Mr Re Reynolds had said If the general public publio better understood the mis- mis arm mm cian und and duties of the tho newspaper reporter it would be DO less patient with such artifices as that of Score Scare hoy McAdoo The Tho newspaper representative is assigned assigned as as- signed to T p report nt a a. meeting or the tho remarks of an individual in in- much as ae the tho e. e expert ert accountant is commissioned commis commis- toi a set of ledgers led rs The fidelity with which he m mirrors the events at the meeting and tho the ac eltra with which he reports too the remarks of an interviewed in in- person perron form fonn his stock k in trade undo It Tt profits profits' him not at all to mislead If he ho does either and end is detected as M is certain to toO bl ho- ho the tho result he M is denied employment Unlike the tho physician whose t mistakes os are buried and the tha lawyer whose errors no layman u can Pr prove mJ the professional proe onal journalist does r his his his- cork k in the Hie broad light of day ho is rood reed of all I meal ms' ms r and all nIl are his uncompromising Fang ng critics And unlike the physician and lawyer his brethren do not conspire to protect him the opposition newspapers either beC because of honest zeal or the hope of adding to the gaiety of nations ave are scrupulously careful to his llis errors and publish them to the few that were ero not already aware of them It is that this condition makes for newspaper ne per accuracy and it itis 4 is not surprising that the reporters reporter's conception of of hell is a place where his misquotations either of ac ac- intent earn C him daily brief but violent and heated interviews with his chief A reputable newspaper always painstakingly Investigates investigates in in- any charges impeaching the accuracy of its it news columns and the ilie efficiency or integrity of its staff But it never takes shortcoming for granted The habit of a n certain type of o citizen of repudiating published reports of his actions or his remarks whenever whenever when when- ever eer either has embarrassed him is so well understood that under tInder charges is considered innocent until investigation im proves proe him guilty of errors or wil ull perversion of t the e truth And tho the newspapers newspaper's consciousness that unreliability is a defect that strikes at its vitals inspires it to rigid inquiry into an any and aud all charges The newspaper least worthy of reliance is that which supinely endures repudiation of interviews in its columns without investigating in and either cither affirming affirm affirm- affirming ing its ita accuracy if that be bc the case or apologizing and discharging the reportorial culprit who betrayed his employers into error Secretary McAdoo will find but little public admiration admiration admiration ad ad- for his Ilia attitude in this case Doubtless he ho had not intended that Banker Reynolds should openly openly open open- ly y reveal what was said to him his intent unquestionably unquestionably was WE to work in secret against the Presidents President's plans But when this thi purpose was unwittingly exposed ex ex- exposed posed by Mr r. r Reynolds the treasury secretary could do no less than seek seck refuge in repudiation tion Fearing g to challenge tho the voracity veracity of a financier r of Mr r. r Reynolds Reynolds' Roy Rey standing and repute ho he chose choro the tho common and impersonal method of attacking tho the accuracy of the thc newspaper reports And his choice lacks lack as ns much of courage as it does of originality |
