The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-01-23
D,sHONoRABLE JOURNALISM.

DfSHONORABLE JOURNALlSMs
Not many years ago, when advance copies
II the Governors message were sen; to the
newspapers OF this vicinity, with instruc-
tions 70 withhold the same till it had been
read to the Legislature, all the papers
with one exception, acted in an honorable
manner, and while having the message in
type, ready to give ii to the public at mo-
nents notice, strictly observed the condi-
tions under which the docment had been
received. The exception referred to was
the Kansas City Times, which, disregardIng
tie conditions imposed, was guilty Of
a violaiton OF journalistic honor, by pub
fishing the message before it WAS given to
the Legislature.
The year after this occurrence, the Gov
ernor, instead OF sending advanced copies
20 those journals which had acted honora-
bly,, and Withholding a copy only from the
one that had abused his confidence, refused
to send to any papers, when Pangborn, then
AZ now the Topeka correspondent of the
Kansas City Times, stole a copy Of the
The message from the State print
ing office, and sent it to his
paper, which again published the docu.
ment in advance Of its delivery to the Leg
iLature.
For these breaches of journalistic cour
rssy, and violations Of journalistic honor
the Kansas City Times was severely and
Justly denounced by all decent papers in
ne vicinity, and was properly regarded a.
guilty of conduct which no honorable
lournal or honorable man, could counter.
snce.
Again, this year, the same paper, lays
before its readers, copy Of the Governor
message in advance Of the reading of tn.
-ame in the Legislsture. We have moi
heard that it stole copy Of the document
and We do not know that advance copie-
Sere sent to the press generally; certain
it is that no copy was received here, though
We telegrsphed TO Governor ST. JOIN
specially for it, informing him that We
should not give it to the public till author
lied by him to 90 so. UD to this time ",
have received no responss TO our telegram
aud this circumstance will tend strongly t,
confirm the truth OF the report which al
leges that an arrangement-a tripartit'
agreement - has been made betweeI
Governor ST. John, GeorgeT. Anthony, ant
the Kansas City Times, by which ST. John, il
consideration of favors, received in the nomi
mating convention last summer, shall secur
the support Of the Kansas City Times fo
George +; and the Times, no,withstsndin,
the fact that it published and republishe,
all the charges against George T. two year
ago, and admitted the suticiency of thep proc
OF the same, is now to support him for tn
Senatorship in consideration Of such favors q
can be extended to it by Governor St JON
of which an advance copy of the messagt
to the exclusion Of other papers, is
sample.
Ii such an arrangement as this has bee
entered into by the parties referred to-an
the circumstances certainly confirm th
report-the people ought to know i
Nothing could we'll be more unjust to th
Republican newspapers Of Kansas, all G
which gave Mr.. ST. John an earnest and Col
dial support, than such sn arrangement a
is above referred to, whereby it is allege
he ia to trade off the favors Of the Govern
or's Office To Democratic paper of anothe
State, in order TO improve the chances Of
Senatorial aspirant TO whom Mr.. ST. job
considers nim-elf indebted for fsvors recei,
ed in The nominating convention last sun
mer. 1t is admitted on all hand. that "ol
good turn deserves another" and if Mr.. S
John attributes his nomination TO Georl
, T., it is no more than fair that he shoul
help George in any legitimate way, but Il
| people will not hold him guiltless in thl
I sacrificing the public interests to return pc
sonal favors, and in bartering the perqui
|. ties of his Office to discharge his person,
obligations, any more than if he should ul
the public funds 10 pay his personal deb
l senator Ingalls and the Peasion BlI
Mr.. Ingall. expects to be with his sul