Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-08-30
mine.


Whenever an article appears 10 a
newspaper on any public question,
whether as communication or in the
form of an editorial for which the ed
itor is personally responsible, some
one takes it all as personal hit, and
orders his paper stopped. An in
stance of this happened the other day,
when toll road man, whom the
WoKLD has befriended in more ways
than one, ordered his paper stopped,
because of communication, pub
lished without comments, the sub
stance of which was that wagon
road is being constructed from Jeru-
salem to QuartZburg, not altogether
to avoid toll, but because it is short
er route, and the correspondent gave
his views of toll roads-to the effect
that Boise county would be better off
if there were no toll roads within her
boundaries. The construction of this
new road will not, and cannot, injure
the business of the road of the man
who stopped his paper. The road, if
ever completed, will divert travel
from the Shafer Creek road, owned
by Henry Hawkins, but Mr.. Hawkins
is not the man who ordered his paper
stopped. We make this statement
for the reason that the supposition
would naturally be that he is the toll
road man referred to. 1t is not neces-
sary to give the name of the offended
party, as what we wish to impress
upon the minds OF patrons can be
just as well done without. 1t is the
experience of all newspaper men that
favors extended are entirely forgotten
when anything appears that by twist
ing, misconstruiag, or magnifcation,
has the slightest semblance of having
some reference, in the slightest de-
gree unfavorable, to something with
which he is connected, and that some
thing of public nature, in which
everybody is interested, and on which
the people cannot be refused voice
in a public journal. A paper that
will refuse to publish comlnunica-
tions on questions of a public nature,
is rot entitled to public patronage,
and does not understand its mission.
1t is also lacking in fairness if it does
not allow those who hold to opposite
views space to air them. Now if this
toll road man has an idea that what
our Jerusalem cor. espondent says in
regard to toll roads is not sound, why
don't he sharpen his pencil and pro-
ceed to dive in and fguratively "wipe
him out?" If he had come to the
front with reply, it would have been
published just as cheerfully as was
the communication of the Jerusalem
man. We have dwelt at length on
this case, to endeavor to impress or
the public rule of newspapers in all
matters that concern the public that
is that the columns of paper al G
open for free discussion, pro or con
II what our Jerusalem correspondent
says is true, there is nothing to con
denim in it. If it is not true, the col
umns of the paper are free for any
one who desires to show that he doe.
not stand on solid ground. There il
a difference of opinion on the ques
ton of doing away with toll roads IL
, this county. Sometime ago we ex
pressed a doubt as to any benefit t.
, the people being derived by so doing
If not kept up as toll roads by indi
viduals, they must be kept in repai
by the county, aud this necessitate
increased taxation, SO it's about a
: broad as it is long.