But " it is the progressive parties," rightly says the Nation , “ who suffer most in their way of thinking by the dominance
of a colorless but invariably conservative agency .” 28 Reuter's has been a proprietary organization controlled by
those who have no personal or immediate connection with the press. But a proprietary news service organized, widely extended to other papers , and controlled by a single newspaper has infinite possibilities for mischief. Such a service extended to several hundred subscribers has more than once been in the hands of a
powerful editor. " He is in constant telegraphic communication with all these publications; he has engaged their editors in busi ness relations with himself ; and consequently his version of the
story and his views are bound to receive more or less favorable consideration." 29 Such a proprietary service assuredly tends to become“ cunning propaganda.” Even more serious is the limitation on the usefulness of the second form of organization where the collection of news is controlled or influenced by the action of government, since at
any time newsmay be delayed or entirely suppressed by govern ment order. In 1914, five days after Serbia had replied to
Austria, the Russian chargé d 'affaires in Berlin reported to his government, “ The Wolff Bureau has not published the text of the Servian response which was communicated to it. Up to
this moment this note has not appeared in extenso in any of the local journals, which , according to all evidence , do not wish to
give [it] a place in their columns, believing that the publication of it would bring a feeling of calmness upon German readers.” 30 28 “ Reuter's," The London Nation , April 24 , 1915, 17: 108 -109. 29 " The Press as a Big Stick ,” The Nation (New York) , September 10 , 1908 ; 87: 228 – 229.
Several of these news agencies started by different newspapers sprang up during the war. One announced under date of May 12, 1917, “ The A . B . has inaugurated a news service with headquarters at Washington .
It aims to furnish the American press with studies, editorials, news letter and Sunday feature stories , dealing with important stories about war con ditions and war items about the trend of public opinion . . . . We are seri
ously engaged in the endeavor to keep the American people accurately in formed on a multitude of vital problems which have been suddenly thrown upon us all. "
30 Russian Orange Book , No. 46. Somewhat similar embarrassments have existed in the case of the semi
official news agency and page of dispatches arranged for in connection with
