自考英語本科高級英語電子書（下冊）

LessonOneTheCompanyinWhichIwork

InthecompanyinwhichIwork,eachofusisafraidofatleastoneperson.Thelower

yourpositionis,themorepeopleyouareafraidof.Andallthepeopleareafraidofthetwelve

menatthetopwhohelpedfoundandbuildthecompanyandnowownanddirectit.

Allthesetwelvemenareelderlynowanddrainedbytimeandsuccessofenergyandambition.

Manyhavespenttheirwholeliveshere.Theyseemfriendly,slow,andcontentwhenIcomeupon

theminthehallsandalwayscourteousandmutewhentheyridewithothersinthepublicelevators.

Theynolongerworkhard.Theyholdmeetings,makepromotions,andallowtheirnamestobeused

onannouncementsthatarepreparedandissuedbysomebodyelse.Nobodyissureanymorewhoreally

runsthecompany(noteventhepeoplewhoarecreditedwithrunningit),butthecompanydoes

run.

Inthenormalcourseofabusinessday,,,!amafraidofJackGreenbecausemydepartmentispart

ofhisdepartmentandJackGreenismyboss;Greenisafraidofmebecausemostofthework

inmydepartmentisdonefortheSalesDepartment,whichismoreimportantthanhisdepartment,

andIammuchclosertoAndyKagleandtheotherpeopleintheSalesDepartmentthanheis.

Greendistrustsmefitfully.Hemakesitcleartomeeverynowandthenthathewishestosee

everythingcomingoutofmydepartmentbeforeitisshowntootherdepartments.Iknowhedoes

notreallymeanthis:heistoobusywithhisownworktopaythatmuchattentiontoallof

mine,andIwillbypasshimonmostofourassignmentsratherthantakeuphistimeanddelay

theirdeliverytopeoplewhohaveanimmediateneedforthem.Mostoftheworkwedoinmy

departmentis,inthelongrun,trivial.ButGreenalwaysgrowsalarmedwhensomeonefromanother

departmentpraisessomethingthathascomefrommydepartment.Heturnsscarletwithrageand

embarrassmentishehasnotseenorheardofit.

Inmydepartment,therearesixpeoplewhoareafraidofme,andonesmallsecretarywhois

afraidofallofus.Ihaveoneotherpersonworkingformewhoisnotafraidofmewhoisnot

afraidofanyone,notevenme,andIwouldfirehimquickly,butI'mafraidofhim???

Thepeopleinthecompanywhoaremostafraidofmostpeoplearethesalesmen.Theyliveand

workunderpressurethatisextraordinary.Whenthingsarebad,theyareworseforthe

salesmen;whenthingsaregood,theyarenotmuchbetter.

Theyarealwaysontrial,alwaysonthevergeoffailure,collectivelyandindividually.They

strain,eventhemostsecureandselfassuredofthem,tolookgoodonpaper;andthereis

muchpaperforthemtolookgoodon.Eachweek,forexample,arecordofthesalesresults

oftheprecedingweekforeachsalesofficeandfortheSalesDepartmentasawholeforeach

divisionofthecompanyiskeptandcomparedtothesalesresultsforthecorrespondingweek

oftheyearbefore.Thefiguresarephotocopiedanddistributedthroughoutthecompanytoall

thepeopleanddepartmentswhoseworkisrelatedtoselling.Theresultofthephotocopying

anddistributingisthatthereisalmostcontinuouspublicscrutinyanddiscussionthroughout

thecompanyofhowwellorpoorlythesalesmenineachsalesofficeofeachdivisionofthecompany

aredoingatanygiventime.

Whensalesmenaredoingwell,thereispressureuponthemtobegindoingbetter,forfearthey

maystartdoingworse.Whentheyaredoingpoorly,theyaredoingterribly.Whenasalesman

landsalargeorderorbringsinanimportantnewaccount,hiselationisbrief,forthere

isdangerhemightlosethatlargeorderorimportantnewaccounttoasalesmanfromacompeting

companythenexttimearound.Itmightevenbecanceledbeforeitisfilled,inwhichcase

nooneiscertainifanythingwasgainedorlost.Sothereiscrisisandalarmevenintheir

triumphs.

Nevertheless,thesalesmenlovetheirworkandwouldnotchooseanyotherkind.Theyarevigorous,

fun-lovingbunchwhentheyarenotsufferingabdominalcrampsorbroodingmiserablyaboutthe

future;ontheotherhand,theyoftenturncrankywithoutwarningandcomplainalot.Each

ofthemcannameatleastonesuperiorinthecompanywhohefeelshasagrudgeagainsthimand

isdeterminedtowreckhiscareer.

Thesalesmenworkhardandearnbigsalaries,withlargepersonalexpenseaccountsthatthey

squandergenerouslyonotherpeopleinandoutofthecompany,includingme.Theyowngood

housesingoodcommunitiesandplaygoodgamesofgolfongoodprivategolfcourses.Thecompany

encouragesthis.Thecompany,infact,willpayfortheircountryclubmembershipandall

chargestheyincurthere,andrewardssalesmenwhomakeagoodimpressiononthegolfcourse.

UnmarriedmenarenotwantedintheSalesDepartment,notevenwidowers,forthecompanyhas

learnedfromexperiencethatitisdifficultanddangerousforunmarriedsalesmentomixsocially

withprominentexecutivesandtheirwivesorparticipatewiththeminresponsiblecivicaffairs.

IfasalesmanJswifediesandheisnotreadytoremarry,heisusuallymovedintoan

administrativepositionafterseveralmonthsofmourning.Bachelorsareneverhiredforthe

salesforce,andsalesmenwhogetdivorced,orwhosewivesdie,knowtheyhadbetterremarry

orbeginlookingaheadtowardadifferentjob.

Strangelyenough,thesalesmenreactverywelltotheconstantpressureandrigidsupervision

towhichtheyaresubjected.Theyarestimulatedandmotivatedbydisciplineanddirection.

Theythriveonexplicitguidancetowardclearobjectives.Forthemostpart,theyarecheerful,

confident,andgregariouswhentheyarenotirritable,anxious,anddepressed.Theremust

besomethinginthemakeupofamanthatenableshimnotonlytobeasalesman,buttowant

tobeone.

Thesalesmenareproudoftheirpositionandofthestatusandimportancetheyenjoywithinthe

company,forthefunctionofmydepartment,andofmostotherdepartments,istohelpthe

salesmensell.Thecompanyexiststosell.That'sthereasonwewerehired,andthereason

wearepaid.

Thepeopleinthecompanywhoareleastafraidarethefewinoursmal1MarketResearchDepartment,

whobelieveinnothingandareconcernedwithcollecting,organizing,interpreting,and

reorganizingstatisticalinformationaboutthepublic,themarket,thecountry,andtheworld.

Foronething,theirsalariesaresmall,andtheyknowtheywillnothavemuchtroublefinding

jobspayingjustaslittleinothercompaniesiftheylosetheirjobshere.Theirbudget,too,

issmall,fortheyarenolongerpermittedtoundertakelargeprojects.

Mostoftheinformationweusenowisobtainedfreefromtradeassociationsandsomegovernmental

organizations,andthereisnowayofknowinganymorewhethertheinformationonwhichwebase

ourowninformationfordistributionistrueorfalse.Butthatdoesn'tseemtomatter;all

thatdoesmatteristhattheinformationcomefromareputablesource.PeopleintheMarket

ResearchDepartmentareneverheldtoblameforconditionstheydiscoveroutsidethecompany

thatplaceusatacompetitivedisadvantage.Theyarenotexpectedtochangereality,butmerely

tofinditiftheycanandsuggestingeniouswaysofdisguisingit.Toagreatextent,that

isthenatureofmyownwork,andallofusunderGreenworkcloselywiththeSalesDepartment

andthePublicRelationsDepartmentinconvertingwholetruthsintohalftruthsandhalftruths

intowholeones.

Iamverygoodatthesetechniquesofdeception,althoughIamnotalwaysableanymoretodeceive

myself.Infact,Iamcontinuouslyastonishedbypeopleinthecompanywhofallvictimtotheir

ownpropaganda.Therearesomanynowwhoactuallybelievethatwhatwedoisreallyimportant.

Thishappensnotonlytosalesmen,buttotheshrewd,capableexecutivesintopmanagement.

Ithappenstopeopleonmyownlevelandlower.Ithappenstojustabouteverybodyinthecompany

whograduatedfromagoodbusinessschoolwithhonors.Everytimewelaunchanewadvertising

campaign,forexample,peopleinsidethecompanyarethefirstonestobetakeninbyit.

Everytimeweintroduceanewproduct,oranoldproductwithadifferentcover,color,and

namethatwepresentasnew,peopleinsidethecompanyarethefirsttorushtobuyiteven

whenit'snogood.

It'sawiseperson,Iguess,whoknowshe'sdumb,andanhonestpersonwhoknowshe,sa

liar.Andit'sadumbpersonwho'sconvincedheiswise.Wewisegrownupshereatthecompany

goslidinginandoutalldaylong,scaringeachotheratourdesksandtryingtoevadethe

peoplewhofrightenus.Wecometowork,havelunch,andgohome.Wegoose-stepinandgoose-step

out,changeourpartnersandwanderallabout,andgobackhometillwealldropdead.Really,

Iaskmyselfeverynowandthen,dependingonhowwellorpoorlythingsaregoingattheoffice

orathomewithmywife,orwithmyretardedson,orwithmyotherson,ormydaughter,or

thecoloredmaid,orthenurseformyretardedson,isthisallthereisformetodo?Isthis

reallythemostIcangetfromthefewyearsleftinthisonelifeofmine?

AndtheanswerIget,ofcourse,isalwaysYes!

Iamboredwithmyworkveryoftennow.EverythingroutinethatcomesinIpassalongtosomebody

else.Thismakesmyboredomworse.It'sarealproblemtodecidewhetherit'smoreboring

todosomethingboringthantopassalongeverythingboringthatcomesintosomebodyelseand

thenhavenothingtodoatall.

Actually,Ienjoymyworkwhentheassignmentsarelargeandurgentandsomewhatfrightening

andwillcometotheattentionofmanypeople.Igetscared,andamunabletosleepatnight,

butIusuallyperformatmybestunderthisstimulatingkindofpressureandenjoymyjobthe

most,Ihandlealloftheseimportantprojectsmyself,andIrejoicewithtremendouspride

andvanityinthecomplimentsIreceivewhenIdothemwel1.Butbetweensuchpeaksofchallenge

andelationthereismonotonyanddespair.(AndIfind,too,thatonceI'vesucceededin

impressingsomebody,I'mnotmuchexcitedaboutimpressingthatsamepersonagain;there

isalarge,emotionalletdownafterIsurviveeachcrisis,akindofempty,tragicdisappointment,

andlastyear'sthreat,opportunity,andinspirationareoftenthisyear'sinescapabletedium.

IfrequentlyfeelI'mbeingtakenadvantageofmerelybecauseI'maskedtodotheworkI

'mpaidtodo.)

OndayswhenI'mespeciallymelancholy,Ibeganconstructingtablesof

organization-,*,classifyingpeopleinthecompanyonthebasisofenvy,hope,fear,ambition,

frustration,rivalry,hatred,ordisappointment.IcallthesechartsmyHappinessCharts.

Theseexercisesinmaliceneverfailtoboostmyspiritsbutonlyforawhile.Irankpretty

highwhenthecompanyisanalyzedthisway,becauseI'mnotenviousordisappointed,and

Ihavenoexpectations.Attheverytop,ofcourse,arethosepeople,mostlyyoungandwithout

dependents,towhomthecompanyisnotyetaninstitutionofanysacredmeritbutstillonly

aplacetowork,andwhoregardtheirpresentassociationwithitassomethingtemporary.I

putthesepeopleatthetopbecauseifyouaskedanyoneofthemifhewouldchoosetospend

therestofhislifeworkingforthecompany,hewouldgiveyouaresoundingNo!,regardless

ofwhatinducementswereoffered.Iwasthathighonce.ifyouaskedmethatsamequestion

today,IwouldalsogiveyouaresoundingNo!andadd:

“IthinkI'dratherdienow.”

ButIammakingnoplanstoleave.

Ihavethefeelingnowthatthereisnoplaceleftformetogo.

LessonTwoEveline

Shesatatthewindowwatchingtheeveninginvadetheavenue.Ilerheadwasleanedagainstthe

windowcurtains,andinhernostrilswastheodourofdustycretonne.Shewastired.

Fewpeoplepassed.Themanoutofthelasthousepassedonhiswayhome;sheheardhisfootsteps

clackingalongtheconcretepavementandafterwardscrunchingonthecinderpathbeforethenew

redhouses.Onetimethereusedtobeafieldthereinwhichtheyusedtoplayeveryevening

withotherpeople'schildren.ThenamanfromBelfastboughtthefieldandbuilthousesin

itnotliketheirlittlebrownhouses,butbrightbrickhouseswithshiningroofs.The

childrenoftheavenueusedtoplaytogetherinthatfield-theDevines,theWaters,theDunns,

littleKeoghthecripple,sheandherbrothersandsisters.Ernest,however,neverplayed:

hewastoogrownup.Herfatherusedoftentohunttheminoutofthefieldwithhisblackthorn

stick;butusuallylittleKeoghusedtokeepnixandcalloutwhenhesawherfathercoming.

Stilltheyseemedtohavebeenratherhappythen.Herfatherwasnotsobadthen;andbesides,

hermotherwasalive.Thatwasalongtimeago;sheandherbrothersandsisterswereallgrown

up;hermotherwasdead.TizzieDunnwasdead,too,andtheWatershadgonebacktoEngland.

Everythingchanged.Nowshewasgoingtogoawayliketheothers,toleaveherhome.

Home!Shelookedroundtheroom,reviewingallitsfamiliarobjectswhichshehaddusted

onceaweekforsomanyyears,wonderingwhereonearthallthedustcamefrom.Perhapsshe

wouldneverseeagainthosefamiliarobjectsfromwhichshehadneverdreamedofbeingdivided.

Andyetduringallthoseyearsshehadneverfoundoutthenameofthepriestwhoseyellowing

photographhungonthewallabovethebrokenharmoniumbesidethecolouredprintofthepromises

madetoBlessedMargaretMaryAlacoque.Hehadbeenaschoolfriendofherfather.whenever

heshowedthephotographtoavisitorherfatherusedtopassitwithacasualword:"Heis

inMelbournenow.”

Shehadconsentedtogoaway,toleaveherhome.Waswhatwise?Shetriedtoweigheach

sideofthequestion.Inherhomeanywayshehadshelterandfood;shehadthosewhomshehad

knownallherlifeabouther.Ofcourseshehadtoworkhard,bothinthehouseandatbusiness.

Whatwouldtheysayofherinthestoreswhentheyfoundoutthatshehadrunawaywithafellow?

Sayshewasafool,perhaps;andherplacewouldbefilledupbyadvertisement.MissGavan

wouldbeglad.Shehadalwayshadanedgeonher,especiallywhenevertherewerepeoplelistening.

“MissHill,don'tyouseetheseladiesarewaiting?”

“Looklively,MissHill,please."

Shewouldnotcrymanytearsatleavingthestores.

Butinhernewhome,inadistantunknowncountry,itwouldnotbelikethat.Thenshewould

bemarriedshe,Eveline.Peoplewouldtreatherwithrespectthen.Shewouldnotbetreated

ashermotherhadbeen.Evennow,thoughshewasovernineteen,shesometimesfeltherself

indangerofherfatherJsviolence.Sheknewitwasthatthathadgivenherthepalpitations.

Whentheyweregrowinguphehadnevergoneforher,likeheusedtogoforHarryandErnest,

becauseshewasagirl;butlatterlyhehadbeguntothreatenherandsaywhathewoulddoto

heronlyforherdeadmother?ssake.Andnowshehadnobodytoprotecther,Ernestwasdead

andHarry,whowasinthechurchdecoratingbusiness,wasnearlyalwaysdownsomewhereinthe

country.Besides,theinvariablesquabbleformoneyonSaturdaynightshadbeguntowearyher

unspeakably.ShealwaysgaveherentirewagessevenshillingsandHarryalwayssent

upwhathecould,butthetroublewastogetanymoneyfromherfather.Hesaidsheusedto

squanderthemoney,thatshehadnohead,thathewasn*tgoingtogiveherhishard-earned

moneytothrowaboutthestreets,andmuchmore,forhewasusuallyfairlybadonSaturday

night.Intheendhewou1dgiveherthemoneyandaskherhadsheanyintentionofbuyingSunday?s

dinner.Thenshehadtorushoutasquicklyasshecouldanddohermarketing,holdingher

blackleatherpursetightlyinherhandassheelbowedherwaythroughthecrowdsandreturning

homelateunderherloadofprovisions.Shehadhardworktokeepthehousetogetherandto

seethatthetwoyoungchildrenwhohadbeenlefttoherchargewenttoschoolregularlyand

gottheirmealsregularly.Itwashardworkahardlifebutnowthatshewasaboutto

leaveitshedidnotfinditawhollyundesirablelife.

ShewasabouttoexploreanotherlifewithFrank.Frankwasverykind,manly,open-hearted.

Shewastogoawaywithhimbythenight-boattobehiswifeandlivewithhiminBuenosAyres,

wherehehadahomewaitingfroher.Howwellsherememberedthefirsttimeshehadseenhim;

hewaslodginginahouseonthemainroadwheresheusedtovisit.Itseemedafewweeksago.

hewasstandingatthegate,hispeakedcappushedbackonhisheadandhishairtumbledforward

overafaceofbronze.Thentheyhadcometoknoweachother.Heusedtomeetheroutsidethe

storeseveryeveningandseeherhome.HetookhertoseeTheBohemianGirlandshefeltelated

asshesatinanunaccustomedpartofthetheatrewithhim.Hewasawfullyfondofmusicand

sangalittle.Peopleknewthattheywerecourting,andwhenhesangaboutthelassthatloves

asailor,shealwaysfeltpleasantlyconfused.HeusedtocallherPoppensoutoffun.First

ofallithadbeenanexcitementforhertohaveafellowandthenshehadbeguntolikehim.

Hehadtalesofdistantcountries.Hehadstartedasadeckboyatapoundamonthonaship

oftheAllanLinegoingouttoCanada.Hetoldherthenamesoftheshipshehadbeenonand

thenamesofthedifferentservices.HehadsailedthroughtheStraitsofMagellanandhetold

herstoriesoftheterriblePatagonians.HehadfallenonhisfeetinBuenosAyres,hesaid,

andhadcomeovertotheoldcountryjustforaholiday.Ofcourse,herfatherhadfoundout

theaffairandhadforbiddenhertohaveanythingtosaytohim.

“Iknowthesesailorchaps,“hesaid.

OnedayhehadquarreledwithFrank,andafterthatshehadtomeetherloversecretly.

Theeveningdeepenedintheavenue.Thewhiteoftwolettersinherlapgrewindistinct.One

wastoHarry;theotherwastoherfather.Ernesthadbeenherfavourite,butshelikeedHarry

too.Herfatherwasbecomingoldlately,shenoticed;hewouldmissher.Sometimeshecould

beverynice.Notlongbefore,whenshehadbeenlaidupforaday,hehadreadherouta

ghoststoryandmadetoastforheratthefire.Anotherday,whentheirmotherwasalive,

theyhadallgoneforapicnictotheHillofHowth.Sherememberedherfatherputtingonher

mother'sbonnettomakethechildrenlaugh.

Hertimewasrunningout,butshecontinuedtositbythewindow,leaningherheadagainstthe

windowcurtain,inhalingtheodourofdustycretonne.Downfarintheavenueshecouldhear

astreetorganplaying.Sheknewtheair.Strangethatitshouldcomethatverynighttoremind

herofthepromisetohermother,herpromisetokeepthehometogetheraslongasshecould.

Sherememberedthelastnightofhermother,sillness;shewasagainintheclose,darkroom

attheothersideofthehallandoutsidesheheardamelancholyairofItaly.Theorgan-player

hadbeenorderedtogoawayandgivensixpence.Sherememberedherfatherstruttingbackinto

thesick-roomsaying:

“DamnedItalians!Comingoverhere!”

AsshemusedthepitifulvisionofhermotherJs1ifelaiditsspellontheveryquickofher

beingthatlifeofcommonplacesacrificesclosinginfinalcraziness.Shetrembledasshe

heardagainhermother'svoicesayingconstantlywithfoolishinsistence:

“DerevaunSeraun!DerevaunSeraun!”

Shestoodupinasuddenimpulseofterror.Escape!Shemustescape!Frankwouldsaveher.

Hewouldgiveherlife,perhapslove,too.Butshewantedtolive.Whyshouldshebeunhappy?

Shehadarighttohappiness.Frankwouldtakeherinhisarms,foldherinhisarms.Hewould

saveher.

***

ShestoodamongtheswayingcrowdinthestationattheNorthWall.Heheldherhandandshe

knewthathewasspeakingtoher,sayingsomethingaboutthepassageoverandoveragain.The

stationwasful1ofsoldierswithbrownbaggages.Throughthewidedoorsoftheshedsshecaught

aglimpseoftheblackmassoftheboat,lyinginbesidethequaywall,withilluminedportholes.

Sheanswerednothing.Shefelthercheekpaleandcoldand,outofamazeofdistress,she

prayedtoGodtodirecther,toshowherwhatwasherduty.Theboatblewalongmournfulwhistle

intothemist.Ifshewent,tomorrowshewouldbeontheseawithFrank,steamingtowards

BuenosAyres.Theirpassagehadbeenbooked.Couldshestilldrawbackafterallhehaddone

forher?Herdistressawokeanauseainherbodyandshekeptmovingherlipsinsilentfervent

prayer.

Abellclangeduponherheart.Shefelthimseizeherhand:"Come!”

Alltheseasoftheworldtumbledaboutherheart.Hewasdrawingherintothem:hewoulddrown

her.Shegrippedwithbothhandsattheironrailing.

:“Come!”

No!No!No!Itwasimpossible.Herhandsclutchedtheironinfrenzy.Amidtheseasshesent

acryofanguish.

“Eveline!Evvy!”

Herushedbeyondthebarrierandcalledtohertofollow.Hewasshoutedattogoon,buthe

stillcalledtoher.Shesetherwhitefacetohim,passive,likeahelplessanimal.Her

eyesgavehimnosignofloveorfarewellorrecognition.

LessonThreeWhat'sWrongWithOurPress?

Newspapershavetwogreatadvantagesovertelevision.Theycanbeusedbymenasbarriersagainst

theirwives.Itisstilltheonlyeffectivescreenagainstthemorningfeaturesoftheloved

one,and,assuch,performsauniquehumanservice.Thesecondadvantageisthatyoucan't

lineagarbagepailwithatelevisionsetit'susuallytheotherwayaround.

Butherearesomeinterestingstatisticsfromalittle,andlittleknown,surveybyMr.Roper

called“Thepublic,sreactiontoTelevisionFollowingtheQuizInvestigations”.Inithe

askseverybodybutmethisquestion:Supposeyoucouldcontinuetohaveonlyoneofthe

followingradio,television,newspapers,ormagazineswhichwouldyouprefer?Newspapers

cameinsecond:Forty-twopercentsaidiftheycouldonlyhaveone,theywouldkeeptelevision.

Thirty-twopercentsaidiftheycouldonlyhaveone,theywouldkeepnewspapers.

Evenso,newspaperpeopleshouldbemuchhappierthanthemagazinepeople,becauseonlyfour

percentsaidtheyneededmagazines,asagainstnineteenpercentforradio.

Butlistentothis.Mr.Roperaskedthesesameharriedpeople:"Ifyougetconflictingor

differentreportsofthesamenewstoryfromradio,television,themagazines,andthe

newspapers,whichofthefourversionswouldyoubemostinclinedtobelieve?”Thirty-two

percentbelievenewspapersasagainstthirtypercentwhobelievetelevision.Butthensomething

reallystrangehappens.WhenMr.Roperaskedhisguineapigswhichofthesemediatheywould

beleastinclinedtobelieve,thenewspaperstoppedthe1ist.Inabigway,too.Twenty-four

percentdon,tbelievenewspapersasagainstninepercentwhodon,tbelievetelevision.

Thefactisthatalthoughnetworktelevisionstillallotstoolittletimetothevitalservice

ofinformingthepublic,itdoesabetterjobinthatlittletimethanthenation,spressas

awhole.AndwhenIspeakofthenation'spressasawhole,Iamnotspeakingofthefive

orsixsplendidnewspapersandtheonegreatnewspaperwhichservetheworldasmodels

ofresponsiblepublicinformation.IamspeakingofthelocalpresswhichinhundredsofAmerican

communitiesistheonlynewsavailable,asidefromthoserecitalsoftickertapethatpassfor

radionews.

WhydoIthinknetworkTvdoesabetterjobofinformingthanthesepapers?Well,let'sget

thepartisanbitoverwith.Televisionlivesonadvertisingtoanevengreaterextentthan

newspapers,andsinceadvertisingisbigbusiness,advertisingisbynatureRepublican.yet

nowhereinnetworknewscastsornetworkcommentariesoncurrenteventshaveIencounteredthe

intensepartisanship,theoftenrabidbiasthatcolorstheeditorialpagesofthemajorityof

newspapersinthiscountry.DouglassCater,inhisbookTheFourthBranchofGovernment,confines

himselftoonlyonepungentfootnoteonthissubject."Ihavedeliberatelyavoided,“he

writes,“gettingintothepredominantlyone-partynatureofnewspaperwonership.itisa

factoflife."Thisparticularfactoflifeisashamefulone:thatnewspaperswhoseduty

istoinformtheAmericanpublicgivethemonlyonesideoftheissuesthataffectthemprofoundly

theRepublicanside.ThisisshamefulnotonlyforDemocratstheyhavesurviveditbefore

andwillsurviveitagainbutforthematurityofourpeople.Someofthesamepaperswhich

loudlyextolthevirtuesoffreeenterpriseandafreepressareconsistentlyfailingtoprint

thefactsonwhichapeoplecanformabalanceandindependentopinion.Thatbalancedand

independentopinionisouronlyrealsecurityasanation.

Now,veryoften,televisioncoverageofnewsissuperficialandinadequate.veryoftenthe

picturetakesprecedenceoverthepoint.Butb