Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-12
ASSAULTS BY THE SENSATIONAL
PRESS.

nc SlliSuldI OulCOUle vi Il libel sui
against prominent San Francisco daily
journal is recorded. The paper in question
last spring made certain statements attack
ing the official integrity of one of the
municipal officers of San Francisco. This
statement was several times repeated, and
certainly was libelous The official know.
ing the charges to be without any founda.
ton whatever, waited until the public
mind no longer considered the subject, and
then brought an action against the paper
Tor $4,000 damages. On Friday last the
matter was settled in this way: The pub
Usher of the paper, finding that he could
not substantiate the charges, and that they
should never have been uttered, author
lied his attorney to make overtures for a
settlement of the matter. The official
upon being applied to- declared that he
simply wished to be vindicated before the
public and did not seek "sweat money!
1t was then agreed that the paper should
publicly retract its statements, and admit
its error, pay all the costs of the suit, and
the fees of the plaintiffs attorneys, which
done the plaintiff would dismiss the ac.
ton. On Monday last the Examiner ad.
mitted that it had wrongfully libeled Mr.
Strother, on information given to it, that
at the time it deemed reliable but it had
become satisfied that Mr. Strother was an
honest man, and had honestly conducted
the affairs of the Auditors Office, and that
he is entitled to the esteem and confidence
of the people. 1t supplemented the retrac-
ton by paying into Court $500 for costs of
suit, and by paying to the attorneys of Mr..
Strother the sum of $1,000, wheieupon the
latter dismissed the action.
la the newspaper business, as in all
other, it is good rule to adopt, be sure
You are right, then go ahead" OF course
the newspaper man is liable to be deceived
by apparently trustworthy information,
that subsequently proves to be wholly I'M
reliable. But it is notable that cases are
very rare, indeed, in which the journal
with ordinary facilities for news-gathering,
cannot ascertain readily the real facts
before publishing Generally the party
assailed can be easily reached, and his de
Tense ascertained, or his explanation o.
facts that on their face look badly, be
taken. The paper thus possessed of both
Sides nf tho caoroal,y
mistake, and at least, by giving both sides
avoids any appearance of unfairness
But the central and chief lesson of the
incident referred to is found in the over
readiness of the sensational press to pub
lish damaging statements concerning pub
lie men. Upon this subject we commented
the other day in referring to Mr.. Town
sends letter concerning ex-Postmaster-
General Villas. That gentleman, man OF
irreproachable character, while in Office
was so fortunate as to become rich by q
rise in real property in the West, ia which
he had invested. Thereupon certain Of
the partisan press, notable for its sensa-
tional character, jumped to the conclusion
that Mr.. Villas had grown rich by pickings
and stealings in office. The Albany Journal
entered its protest against this disposition
of certain of the press to suspect public
men of dishonesty if they do not leave
office out at the knees and with pockets
inside out. The RECORD MON seconded
the protest. The sensational press of the
COMMUNICATING libclous course fol-
enterprise-by indiscriminate onslaughts
upon men in whom trust is repoSed, or
who aspire to official honors, has been
for some time steadily educating
the public into want of confidence in it
1t is not to be denied that considerable
number Of the newspapers of the day
fortunately growing less-mistake assault
upon character, the impuning of motives
and indulgence in innuendo:and suspicion,
for criticism of policy and administration
The reading public-which is Just as in
telligent as the writing class, and as able
to form just estimates-is not slow to dis
cover that uniform policy of assault effects
nothing, and it comes very early to the
conclusion to receive everything these
scavengers of the press say Of public men
with 50 much of allowance that the credit
of the newspaper expression, so far as they
are concerned, is very much injured, and
the honest and decent press suffers some
what by association.
We remember one of the most distin-
guished men of this coast, who has filled
important offices and is now in one OF
great responsibility, remarking, when this
subject was under discussion, that he had
in later years adopted the policy to take
no concern about and make no reply to
assaults upon his actions or motives, or
upon his conduct in Office, preferred by the
sensational press. For he was convinced,
he added, that the INSCRIPTIONS man who
Is behind 4 newspaper and makes it his
business to asSaii and suspect, has an undue
advantage in the iiust place, and in the
second, convinced of the rectitude of his
course, and it having the approval of his
conscience, he was content to let the people
judge him regardless of assaults by papers
of the character referred to, and also con-
WINGED that the great mass of the public
held them at precisely their true value.
There is in such expressions, which reflect
the thought of most cool-headed men,
enough Of force to call the atten-
ton Of the class of the press
known as sensational, to the fact that TN
discriminating assault aud eager readiness
to prefer charges and draw damaging con
illusions upon them, tends to the destruc-
ton of whatever influence they expect and
hope to exert. The best evidence OF this
is found in the fact that journals which
scrupulously avoid hasty conclusions, and
indulge in no assaults without examination
to the point of conviction, are those, when
they do attack, which the people receive
and respect and place confidence in. For
.,,,a,oI, .h;. cf.,c- IF ,,a,rs;,apprs ruder