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Editorial
March 24, 1914
Aberdeen Herald
Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington
What is this article about?
An editorial defends County Assessor R. A. Wiley against the Aberdeen World's biased news reporting, particularly a misleading front-page story about his purchase of overvalued land from Frank Stenzel, clarifying facts and accusing the paper of shading the news.
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Shading the News
During the past year, the Aberdeen
World has omitted no opportunity to
criticize County Assessor R. A. Wiley
and to belittle the work of his office.
So long as such criticisms were con-
fined to the editorial columns they
merely conveyed the opinion of the
editor or the interests he represents,
but when injected into the
news
columns of the paper, they become
not only unfair to the assessor's of-
fice, but to the reader as well.
Last week the evening paper treat-
ed its readers to a front page story
that contained just truth enough to
hang a falsehood to, concerning a pur-
chase of land made by Assessor Wiley
from Frank Stenzel. The World story
said the land was assessed at $1,500;
that Stenzel complained of over val-
uation to Commissioner Locke, and
that Wiley, to defend his assess-
ment, took over the land at $1,500
when Stenzel insisted that he do so.
The intent of the story is clear.
and convincing if it did not lack the
element of truth. In the first place,
Assessor Wiley did not assess the
land. That was done in 1912 by his
predecessor. Nor did he demur to
taking the land at the price-which
was named as a bluff-but snapped at
it quick, and has announced himself
in the market for a limited number
of similar bargains.
During the past year, the Aberdeen
World has omitted no opportunity to
criticize County Assessor R. A. Wiley
and to belittle the work of his office.
So long as such criticisms were con-
fined to the editorial columns they
merely conveyed the opinion of the
editor or the interests he represents,
but when injected into the
news
columns of the paper, they become
not only unfair to the assessor's of-
fice, but to the reader as well.
Last week the evening paper treat-
ed its readers to a front page story
that contained just truth enough to
hang a falsehood to, concerning a pur-
chase of land made by Assessor Wiley
from Frank Stenzel. The World story
said the land was assessed at $1,500;
that Stenzel complained of over val-
uation to Commissioner Locke, and
that Wiley, to defend his assess-
ment, took over the land at $1,500
when Stenzel insisted that he do so.
The intent of the story is clear.
and convincing if it did not lack the
element of truth. In the first place,
Assessor Wiley did not assess the
land. That was done in 1912 by his
predecessor. Nor did he demur to
taking the land at the price-which
was named as a bluff-but snapped at
it quick, and has announced himself
in the market for a limited number
of similar bargains.
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Press Bias
Assessor Criticism
Unfair Reporting
Land Assessment
Newspaper Misconduct
What entities or persons were involved?
Aberdeen World
R. A. Wiley
Frank Stenzel
Commissioner Locke
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Biased Reporting Against County Assessor R. A. Wiley
Stance / Tone
Defensive Of Assessor, Accusatory Of Newspaper Bias
Key Figures
Aberdeen World
R. A. Wiley
Frank Stenzel
Commissioner Locke
Key Arguments
Aberdeen World Has Repeatedly Criticized Assessor Wiley In Editorials
Bias Extends Unfairly Into News Columns, Misleading Readers
Story On Wiley's Land Purchase From Stenzel Is Misleading: Land Assessed In 1912 By Predecessor, Not Wiley
Wiley Accepted The Land At Assessed Value Quickly, Seeking Similar Deals