Thanks, But No Thanks

Never has the press felt more unpopular at a national political convention than at San Francisco in July, where Republican delegates booed and hissed newsmen from the floor. In contrast, never has the press felt more popular than at Atlantic City last week, where Speaker of the House John McCormack, in opening the Democrats' conclave, went out of his way to give a cordial welcome to journalists.

If this was intended to bring grateful smiles from the press galleries, it got none from the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. WE DON'T WANT TO BE LOVED, proclaimed Scripps-Howard in a statement that went to all member papers of the chain. "This love feast at Atlantic City--well, frankly, it's embarrassing. We will feel more at ease when the Democrats also denounce us again, as they did for so many years. We cherish our memories of the days when the Democrats railed at us as a 'one-party press.' The late great political reporter Sam Blythe set a stern standard for men in our trade. Said Sam: The only way for a journalist to look at a politician is down.'

"We don't expect to be loved. We only insist on being tolerated--and feel more comfortable when those who tolerate us do it reluctantly."

* Chief political correspondent in Washington, 1900-07, for Joseph Pulitzer's New York World.

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