Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-03-27
A Startling Innovation.

| HIS yet DttU uuupltu W tphlItl Sbt
utterances of newspaper has just
been developed in Nashville, Tenn,
y On the 2lstinstant Judge Nj. w. Allen,
judge of the criminal court of Nash
vile, granted an Injunction restraining
Mr.. a. 5. Colyar, president Of the
American (newspsper) Publishing
company, from advocating, through
the columns of said newspaper, pro-
tective tariff policy and from opposing
state railroad commission. The writ
ofinjunction, as served upon Mr.. Col
var aud his corps o; editors, reads az
follows:
Enouiug aud restraining the said board
OF directors. aud the said \. : Colyar a. pres.
ident, from causing the American TO adyo-
cate ana promulgat, any doctrines
and cdltoriaIy TO make any
publication not in full accord and har-
nlony with ths platforms Of the political
| principles referred to upon the subject OF the
regulation and control of railroads, aud the
laying and imposition Of tariffs.
This injunction, ii is stated, was is
sued upon the petition of one Mr.. John
j. Fertrees, who does not claim to be
stakeholder in the American compa.
ny, but who is the assignee of Duncan
j. Cooper, who owned majority Of
the stock. by virtue OF his position
rs such assignee Mr.. Nertrces alleges
that he has an equitable !
interest in the American and |
it's editorial utterances. There are
some collateral facts, however, con-
nected with this singular proceeding,
which do not serve TO show il up in
the most favorable light. Mr.. Vertreea,
rs IL happens, is the chairman of the
Democratic executive committee for
the state of Tennessee, and it would
seem that his action is based simply
and purely on political, partisan mo-
tiyes and not on business considerq-
tons. 1t would appear that this mat
ter could have been settled by the
American directory, without resorting
to the courts and thus inviting unpalp-
table notoriety. AS president of the
American company Mr.. Colyar Is
either competent to conduct the paper
or he is incompetent. As long as he
fills the position he should certainly be
allowed to exercise his Judgment ms TO
The policy to be pursued by the Ameri-
can. If he is incompetent or iptracta-
bic, and does not control majority of
the stock, the directors have Their
remedy. As tits, If this Injunction is
allowed to stand, Of what account will
the utteranoes of the American be? Ii
will be known throughout Tennessee
hat ii is gagged and hampcred. The
controlling interest would have done
better to have thrown Mr.. Colyar over
board at once and recognized the es-
Enlistment. II is an anomaly to
even think Of great newspaper whose
editorial utterances are shaped and
controlled by the mandates of court.
We do not sympathi2c with the pro-
tective tariff policy OF the American,
but it must he said that the Demo
cratic party in Tennessee is reduced to
n sore strait if it has to avail itself of
such means to inspire the utterances of
Its press. The case is decided inno-
walton, and its outcome will be
watched with interest by the press of
the country, especially those papers
conducted as stock enterprises. It's
10 be presumed Mr., Colyar will make
an effort to have the Injunction dis.
solved or else resign his position.