The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-03-05


IL isa great mistake 10 suppose the pre-
posed law TO copyright news is disposed Of
because the evening journals OF the cOun.
tTy have taken an early opportunity OF rid.
ding themselves OF the Initiated bio which
the proposition has stirred up In tAeir
hitherto quiet journalistic Hystems. IL Is
not always q sign of good sense or sound
judgment To be previous IN expressing our
selves In favor OF or against PROPOSE
ton, particularly when sellJatsrest
may warp our opinion aud lead ne to orro-
noous o0nolusion8. Ia amply asserting the
ilslice .ud equity OF this copyright law
The Express has aimed TO be Just and fair
aud has abHtnined from epithet and abuse
IN i.s illusions 10 thoao newspapers which
do business upon the capital OF others, and
have appropriated tbs property Of others,
40 Il they wero disposed to think an agrt-
rian state OF society was preferable TO any
other. II was not "theit" or piracy" nor
was 10 dishonest or mean for evening news
papers 20 print tho dispatches appearing 80
the columns OF the morning newspapers, 20
long as the journals paying Tor those dis
patchea took no steps TO have their property
In nows secured N th5m. But there were
localities where other means were resorted
to, beaides simply copying the dispatches,
watch were mean, dishonest and unfair, and
many special was published in many
an evening newspaper that Was concOcted
In the Office OF evening papers, predicated
upon the statements OF dishonest employees
in the telegraph Office, or obtained by hear
ing the click OF the instrument while news
Only lew days ago we insistad
that in the conduct of news
papers there should be observed the same
rules of decency and responsibility that
refined society demands OF those who are
recognized as gentlemen, In their inter.
course with each other, and had those
rules been observed among newspapers
there would have been greater hesitancy
on the part OF the morning paper. 10 seek
relief than has been exhibited eince the
matter has gone TO congress 10 adjudicato.
To bodily lift the dispatches out Of the
columns of IL journal paying for them, aud
appropriaiing them without leave, or
credit given, was not exactly In sccord-
Ance with proprely or delicscy. The
necessity OF reliet being granted, continues
to be discussed by the press all over the
country, and 1t does seem AS II common
justice would dictate to congress the pro-
prieiv and necessity Of the relief sought.
The Express has alluded to this subject
again because some OF tho country papers
have not appreciated the fact, that their
interests will be but little disturbed by tho
copy right law, II, indeed the proposition
should be recognizes as one that demands
be granted. Among the many reasons
which have been given for the passage
OF sw 10 protect those Newspapers which
buy their telegraph news frSm the depre-
dations oe morning IS well as evening jour
nals, the subioined one from the Memphis
Avalanche Is among the strongest aud
o. oct convincing:
For instance, the newspaper that steals
| instead OF buying its news sets an early
copy of the honest newspaper, pristsd Al
S O'Clock q. m, aud reprints the news
sc g. "a, and, Of course. under
selis the newspaper that buys its
news, ss It can well afford to do. Under
present laws the publisher can copyright
his ne 10 II Issued in phamplet or book
form, and there 10 no sense in denying him
that privilege for twenty.four hours In HIS
newspaper. This protection OF the daily
newspaper from tho pirates does not inter
fere with the country press. The limit Of
twenty -four hours practically leaves the
legitimate copying OF news just as before.
It 10 difficult 10 conceive a reason Why an
honest newspaper should object TO the en-
actnent Of this law.-[San Antonio Ex-
press
-