The Wasp — 1895 — page 293: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a profile photograph of **Charles M. Shortridge**, identified as "Editor and Proprietor of the 'Morning Call.'" The accompanying article praises Shortridge's journalistic enterprise in establishing a newspaper in California, claiming he's brought respectability and honest reporting to a state allegedly known for sensationalism and corrupt journalism. The text suggests California newspapers had earned a poor reputation for catering to "irresponsible elements" and engaging in reckless attacks on institutions and individuals. Shortridge is portrayed as reforming this tradition through legitimate, dignified journalism. The page critiques San Francisco's journalistic culture as hostile to business and capital, blaming newspapers for spreading socialist ideas. Shortridge represents a counterforce—a responsible publisher bringing Eastern standards of propriety to California publishing.