New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-13
THE PRESS AS 4 GRAND JURY.
DEBATE BY THE COMMONWEALTH CLUE.
MR. LEAVITT EXPRESSES HIS OPINION OF NEWS
PAPERS, WHILE LOUIS WINDMULLER
WARMLY Defends THEN.

WARMLY Defends THEM
The Commonwealth Club had dinner last night at
Morello's, and aftcrwad discussed The Newspaper
rs Grand jury" W. J. Coombs presided, and there
was large attendance. Among those present were
captain Goldman, Carl SchuH, Dr.. scnncr. Joseph
"Iiacr' RnSscll sturcis. Horace f. Demng. Winthrop
Parker lSidor strans and John Brooks Lcavtt.
Mr. Leavtt led in the debate. Like another ceie
bTated lawyer, he quoted Scripture TO begin with
The text was: They all began with one consent to
make excuse Mr. Leavln said that several editors
had been Invited to attend to defend their calling but
that all OF them like the bridal guest, in the parable
had stayed away The liberty Of the press, according
to statute he said. consisted in giving true and accu
rate reports He did not he said four times, intend
TO enter into any datrbe against the press bat he eX
pressed his disapprobaton of tile manner in which
the press went into private affairs.
lie went on TO assert that I'm of an attack, the
press allowed to the person attacked only garbled
defence, il il allowed a defence at all. But ne
repeated, "as | say, | don't intend any diatrib'
against the press. We can't get along without them
| calmly say, accepting the existence Of disease in
the body polite. how shall remedy it,
one of Mr. Leavtt's remedies. which he wisely
considered mot very efficient" not TO read the
papers at all. Another the law of lbcl DIV
newspapers never published any adverse decisions
against themselves their confrercs. I'VE have
with lis to night he went on. gentlcinan VINO
has had the courage 70 sue newspaper IN Boston
for defamation Of character and ha~ got Sl2'ooO
damages. ] asked him whether any newspaper in BoS'
ton Or here had published account Of the action. lie
answered that the paper, lad OILY published II III
a slight way. that from thcm Won could only get the
FACT that there was such an adverse decision II has
occurred 20 me- as a censorship OF the press l. Ia hc
deprecated. why Is it not feasible 10 require every
newspaper to give column or two columns. or page
according to 10, circulation 10 the publication of such
IN he mil, fts u
~, " ''0 F"'''
Mr. Lcavitt then exhibited several copies of THE
Long Island ia'meF III Illustration Oh '',' .s mad
""r"IhS Of th's idcH' Inc Farmer n' sun '''
sold couple Of It's columns for about year to
super>i,or Duncan. that Mr. duncan might publish
'"P0''''"'' N"I''"'' ''"' ''' ~ A.,
nrnc,n. articles and ,,buc inc nrluriple of selling
a., I'm -, . ,, o., . o.. ,,.,lle,,,d~ uubl,, official
may be good il mus; BE said that the Commonwealth
CInb Laughed n Mr. Ic,vitt,, case in point. Another
Of Mr. Loavirt., suggestions wa, that there should be-
., ~, c,i,,,r.~ .boull
scandal truSt' tHdl " " ''''N''c 81 c"''" "o'''
confer before the publication OF ANY S''"dai Oh d
private individual
Iouis vipduuollcr said tlot lie lad
, nh, J..
understood that the subject OF discussion Won" u'
the influence of the pres and lu view Of that Boz
had prepared 4 paper which ia some thn- might
pa.t: 49,
now rI.r. ~ M, ,i.,c, ,,u,.r, vhtr. 1cW,papcr.
AN, rcd a. much a. here myself would ralAcr
a., nm mn, Lr,,LTl,f t,,u fo- tc pleasure IF read
I'M. mn favor.tc paper. 4 German quotation SAYS:
-. l. m. whom Won 9- ,,ci'. with and VIII ,ay who
Won ar Hr,, IL uI no rad. Name ,our fltor.to
pnpcr and viii t,.! you what you are
while the Influence 81 our pres b. subtle. 80 20 he
hardly apparent 10 the .up.rD al observer lt j.. great
Indeed IN. mind az the daily read r wlll a, surely
h, uouldcd Lv flt. editorials If hi, paper as the
har, rock j., y the p.rpctLal drop ui water ou fhs
-.Uc spot The ancient Gr..hs have been iu
I,,rny the middle axe the mind Of o.. people wi-
,r.,.d is tf. fr. sermons 81 priest AID parsons.
Tb.y a-.I.f.d ia thr d,vclopm.ut II TIE r.ll-lou.