- lence, and their unreasonableness in refusing terms of
settlement. Other newspapers, representing the labor interests, have printed "shaded" reports to show that employers have treated their men unjustly, that the militia has been brutal, and officers of the law unfair to strikers.
Newspaper editors and publishers, in these and other instances, often maintain that they only print what their readers want. The questions involved, therefore, are, Do readers want unbiased news reports of the events of the day, or do they prefer to have them "colored" or "shaded" to favor the side in which they as a class are interested? Does the business man who takes a conservative, well-edited newspaper want news stories written to suit his point of view? Does the workingman who buys the Socialist daily or the labor union daily really want his news "shaded" to favor the cause of labor? In the case of a strike in which business or manufacturing interests are involved, do not both employers and employees want the actual facts as an unprejudiced reporter sees them? If readers do want "colored" news in such cases, are editors justified in departing from the truth in order to satisfy them?
Some men of wealth and some big business corporations have undoubtedly bought existing newspapers or have established new ones, secretly or openly, with the evident intention of using news and editorial columns to advance their own interests. Ambition to secure political office or power has obviously been the purpose of some of these men. Creation of public opinion favorable to their business interests has undoubtedly been the aim of other men and of corporations. Suppression of unfavorable news, and the "coloring" of other news to make it more favorable, as well as editorial argument and comment, are the means used to accomplish these
