The herald., 1895-06-13
LEAGUE OF PRESS CLUBS
Some Changes in the Law OF Libel Are
Suggested
Clubs Throughout the Union Adopted.
Election of Officers
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
PHILADELPHIA, June l2.-The con-
vention OF the international League of
Press clubs today adopted resolution
offered by Charles Emery Smith of the
Philadelphia Press urging the various
clubs OF the league to work energetically
to secure from the legislatures OF the sew.
eral states the passage of laws to protect
newspaper men in PRESERVING inyiolate
confidential information communicated
to them in the ordinary course OF their
duties. The resolution was adopted.
Speaking as a newspaper proprietor, Mr..
Smith said that 1t he had correctly OBJ
served the young men about him there
was not one worthy member IN the news
paper profession who would not rather
rot in Jail than betray his confidence.
John II. Low of Philadelphia offered a
resolution relative to libel laws, introduce
ing it in a long preamble calling atten-
tion TO the ser vices performed by nu-
merous papers OF the nation as ,the chief
weapons OF defense against corruption
and vice, and reciting that it has become
their duty and right to expose public
scandal, maladministration of offices and
violations OF law, SO long as they do not
in printing and writing. abuse the liberty
granted them. In conclusion the resolu-
tlons call upon the president of the league
to petition the legislatures to pass gem
eral libel law worded rs follows:
Before any suit Shall be brought Tor
the publication OF any libel in newspa-
per in this state, the aggrieved party
shall, at least three days before filing or
giving the complaint in such suit. serve
a notice on the publisher or publishers Of
said newspaper at their principal Office of
publication, specifying the, statements in
the said article which he or they may
allege to be false or defamatory. II it
shall appear on the said action that SAID
article was published in good faith that
Its falsty was due to a mistake or misap-
prehension OF the facts therein alleged
to be erroneous vas published in the next
regular issue OF such newspaper, or IN
case of family papers, within three DAYS
after such mistake or misapprehens sion
was brought to the knowledge of such
publisher or publishers in as conspicuous
a place and type in snch newspaper as
was the article mplained OF as libelous
:nen the plaintiff in such case shall re-
cover only actual damages. Provided,
however, that the provision of this act
shall not apply to the case of any libel
against any candidate for public office
in this state unless the retraction of the
charge is made editorially in a conspicus
GUS manner at least three days before
election. In case such libelous article
was published in a daily newspaper. If
published in weekly paper at least ten
days before the election The resolution
was adoted.
The convention this morning selected
Buffalo as til place for holding the next
conv nvention. The date will be fixed by
the executive committee. The following
officers we're elected to serve during the
coming year: President, Louis II. Megar-
gee, Phiadelhia: vice president, Joseph
Howard New York; treasurer, James s.
Mccarthy, Philadelphia; secretary, Harry
d. Yought, Buffalo.