Page:Herr Glessner Creel - Tricks of the Press (1911).djvu/29

 "Well then, that's the reason," said the manager. "The more, frequently the public is misled through the financial columns of the newspapers the better we like it. But when they lie about us we do want them to all unite upon the same lie."

Headline, writing is an art in itself. On every newspaper are men whose duty it is to write the sentences which head every story. This is the largest type in the paper, is the most important, and is supposed to give the gist of the story underneath. I've a gem here that I picked up in Chicago. This is the "Chicago Daily Journal" for February 11, 1909. This headline all of you can see. It won't he necessary to put on spectacles, either, It was written for a purpose—to be seen and read at a distance. Look at it. (See page 22.) It reads:

What do you think of it? Now. then, the beautiful part about this is that while, the headline runs clear across six columns the actual story of "Guarding Taft from Socialists" occupies just sixteen lines, date line and all. You'll notice that I've drawn a line with pen and ink here, showing where the Socialist story leaves off and the paper launches off into a description of "balmy spring weather." This is the typical newspaper, anti-Socialist story. It's six columns wide and an inch deep.

Such headlines are gotten out to be read from the new stands. They catch the eye. Even if you don't stop and buy a paper, the impression is made on your mind. You go on your way convinced that Socialists attempted to do the President bodily harm and were foiled in the attempt. As a matter of fact, this incident did not occur. I've corresponded with many people in New Orleans and none of them know anything about it. It's a fake pure and simple.

And now what redress do you suppose Socialists or anyone else have? We boys on the papers have a story which, to us, illustrates hat point. It relates to one of you—the reading public—named John Brown. One