Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-22
The LEDGER AEp CHAMBER or COM

FREE
TIE LEDGER AND CHAMBER OF CON-
MBRcB.
We we're not made aware until Jester
day that the Chamber Of Commerce. is
run iu the interest Of any particular
newspaper and that one Of its officers
would presume to carry his personal
feelings into that Chamber to diserimi
nate sgsinst any other paper published
in the city. 1t is q chartered institution
BY an act of the Legislature, il We mis-
take not, and unless j, is conducted on
different principles from similar institu-
tions all over the country, the press IS
entitled TO have access to such facts and
statements collected from time to time
as may concern the public. Memphis is
the only city in the Union, We venture to
say, where the secretary furnishes official
statements to one or more papers to the
exclusion of others. This is not the 6rst
slight the LEDGER has received at the
hands Of Mr.. Toof. The origin Of the
whole affair, to be plain, dates back SEINE
time ago when be aud the proprietor Of
this paper had a personal difference Of
opinion as to the merits and dement's of
the late A. J. Mt. TOot has never
omitted an opportunity since to discrim-
mate in his official capacity against the
LEDGER, thus using the machinery OF the
Chamber Of Commerce and the high trust
reposed in his hands to crafty his indi
yidusl feelings. The Chamber Of Com
merce, as a body, gave no such instruc'
tons, and perhaps knew nothing Of this
gross abuse of power by its secretary.
Our reporters have appealed time and
again for the statement furnished ex
clusively to the morning papers. He
put them off ever since the first Of jan
uary on some pretext or other until yea
terdsy, when he admitted that be was
holding it for the Appeal and Avalanche,
aud would not let the LEDGER have any
part Of it. This was when he held
the statement in his hand, and
he was assured that we only
desired to use q few essential facts But
no; the imperious secretary considered
himself paid a big salary to take care OF
the morning papers, and see that the
LEDGER should not damage its cotempo.
raries by getting in the lines ahead OF
them. The LRDGER is such q mighty
monster that the strong arm Of the
Chamber of Commerce, directed By it's
puissaHt secretary, must be invoked to
save the rest Of the city press from de-
struction. His conduct was as ridiculous
as it was malicious and unworthy. Since
Mr.. Toofs accession to bis present po-
sition he has manifested his dislike to
this paper in g dozen different ways
which can be mentioned. We do not
care for this, as far as be is concerned.
but We do object aud protest to any one
MAJ being allowed to stand at the
door of q public institution, which
We have always upheld, and ex'
elude our reporters while others are
furnished exclusive Information. And
for this reason we call the attention
of the public and the Chamber of Com
Merce to the unwarrantable and bigoted
course of Mr.. Secretary loot. 1t wal
mons Of his business whether we goI
ahead Of the other papers or not, though
the fact is that what We desired to pub
liAh was only q synopsis which would no
have affected the other papers in The
least. This, however, 10 only 8 sid
issue. 1t is the abuse Of brief authority
aud studied %discourtesy Of which ",
complain aud shall further expose here
after. The Chamber of Commerce i
composed Of business men and is pre-
sumed to represent and promote tn
commercial interests Of the communit
to- large extent, and weare not prepare
to believe that the intention is to cloth
my officer with power aud discretion
reward personal fAvorites or crafty pc
sonal spites,