“We are going to give the people news from a new standpoint, aren’t we? We are not going on the assumption that the report of mankind’s errors is the report of real news. The only thing that is really new is good. We’ll report that. When I was in Mr. Adams’s office two items came in over the ’phone. One was the report of a jewel robbery, and the other was an announcement of the draining by the Government of submerged lands in Louisiana, so as to give an additional opportunity to those seeking farms. Which item did Mr. Adams put 90 in bold type on the front page? The first, yes. I was unable to locate the latter anywhere in the paper, although it was a timely bit of news.”
“Very true,” replied Hitt.
“Now another thing,” continued the girl, “I want the Sunday edition of the Express to contain a résumé of the important and vital news of the week, with the very clearest, most impartial and enlightening editorial comment upon it. This calls for nice discrimination in the selection of those items for our comment. It means, however, the best practical education for the people. This was John Ruskin’s idea, and certainly is a splendid one. Still another thing, the Express will stand shoulder to shoulder with the women for equal suffrage. Are you agreed?”
“Most emphatically!” declared Hitt. “It is the women who will clean up and regenerate this world, not the men. Reform is now in the hands of the women. They have been held back long enough. And India proves that backward women mean a backward nation.”
“Then,” continued Carmen, “make a distinct Women’s Department in the Express, and put Miss Wall on the staff.”
“Very well. Next?” inquired Hitt, smiling.
“A daily educational department for foreigners, our immigrants, giving them every possible aid in suggestions regarding their naturalization, the languages, hotels, boarding houses, employment, and so on.”
“Done,” said Hitt. “And what else?”
“The Express is going to maintain a social service, and night schools. It is going to establish vacation and permanent homes for girls. It is going to provide for vocational training. It is going to establish a lecture bureau––for lectures on good. It is going to build a model city for workingmen. Then it is going to found a model city for everybody. It is going to establish clubs and meeting places for workingmen, places where they may meet, and play games, and read, and have social intercourse, and practical instruction. It is going to establish the same for young boys. It is going to take the lead for civic betterment in this city, and for child-welfare, and for––”
By this time Haynerd was sitting erect and staring in bewilderment at the girl. “What do you mean?” he sputtered. “Aren’t you wandering somewhat beyond strict newspaper limits? We are in the news business!”