Picture  a  session  of  the  editorial  council  of  a  great


284  The  Menace  of  Privilege

morning  daily.  The  departmental  heads  are  gathered
about  a  large  table,  and  each  in  turn  reports  the  impor-
tant news  features  in  sight  for  the  next  day's  issue.  In
this  way  all  the  news  and  comment  departments  act  with
full  knowledge  and  in  harmony.  The  city  or  local  editor
generally  has  the  heaviest  budget,  and  in  this  instance
he  has  at  the  head  of  his  long-written  list  what  he  calls
"a  first-class  sensation  and  scoop."

"Well?"  says  the  chief  editor,  expectantly.
"Smithson,  our  City  Hall  man,"  observes  the  city
editor,  "has  got  under  the  lid  of  the  gridiron  railroad
grant  —  names,  dates,  places,  amounts,  affidavits  -
everything.  Good  for  two  pages,  straight  running.  Not
another  paper  has  a  peep  at  it.  Will  give  the  town  the
biggest  shake-up  it  has  had  in  a  year!"

"Any  important  people  involved?"  asks  the  chief,  with
easy  self-command.
