The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-03-06
As 1t Is and AS 1t Should De.

1t is q great mistake to suppose the pro-
posed law to copyright news Is disposed of
becau,o the evening journals of the coun.
try have taken an early opportunity OF rid.
ding themselves OF tho vitiatsd bile which
the proposition has stirred up In their
hitherto quiet journalistic systems. 1t is
not always sign Of good sense or sound
Judgment to be previous In expressing oar.
selves in favor of or against q PROPOSE
ton, particularly when self.intsrest
NAV warp our opinion and lead us to erro-
neous conclusions. In simply asserting the
j1stics and equity OF this copyright law
The Express has aimed to be Just and fair,
and has abstained from eplthet and abuse
in its illusions to those newspapers which
do business upon the capital of others, and
have appropriated the property Of others,
as if thev wer6e disposed to think an agra
rian state OF society was preferable to any
other, It was not theft" or PIRACY" nor
was it dishonest or mean for evening news.
papers to print the dispatches appearing in
the columns OF the morning newspapers, 30
long as the Journals paying for those dis.
patches took no steps TO have their property
in news secured to thsm. But there were
localities where other means were resorted
to, besides simply copying the dispatches,
which were mean, dishonest and unfair, and
many a "speciaP' was published In many
an evening newspaper that was concocted
upon the statements of dishonest employees
In the telegraph office, or obtained BY hear
ing the click of the instrument while news
was being flashed over the wires.
Only a few days ago we insisted
that in the conduct Of news
papers there should be observed the same
rules of deceDcy and responsibility that
refined society demands OF those who are
recognized ab gentlemen, in their inter.
course with each other, and had those
rules been observed among newspapers
there would have been a greater hesitanoy
on the part OF the morning papers to Bee
relief than has been exhibited since the
matter has gone to congress to adjudicate.
To bodily lift the dispatches out OF the
columns of journal paying for them, and
appropria,ing them without leave, or
credit given, was not exactly in accord
ance with propriety or delicacy. Inc
necessity OF relief being granted, continues
to De discussed by the press al over the
country, and IL does seem as II common
in .tice would dictate to congress. the pro-
priety aud necessity of the relief sought.
The Express has alluded to this subject
again because some Of the country papers
interests will be but little disturbed by the
COPY right law, 1t. indeed, the PROPOSITION
should be recognized as one that demands
some legislation, and the relief asked should
be granted Among the many reasons
which have been given for he passage
of law TO protect those newspapers whicn
buy their telegraph news rem the depre-
daIions of morning AS well as evening jour-
nails. the subjoined one from the Memphis
Avslancne is among the strongest and
most convincing: .
For instance, the newspaper that steals
instead of buying Its news gets an early
copy Of the honest newspaper, printed st