The record-union., 1896-06-11
THE LYING PRESS.

Not long ago there was general ex-
clamation and protest against trial by
newspaper" It was not the outcome Of
fear to have the press treat Of cases
at issue, but because SO very largely
conscienceless newspapers had gone
into the business of selling themselves
to be advocates of one side or the
other in important cases. 1t is not long
ago when, in San Francisco, 1t was
deemed essential in very important
cases, especially those involving large
estates, or sums of money or great in
terests, to secure the championship Of
a metropolitan newspaper or two.
So notoriously scandalous did this
practice become that it brought out
from the decent and truly representa-
tive press Of the country, and from
bench and bar, the protest and con-
demnation it deserved. It is, how
ever, still an evil, and it has an auxil-
iary evil quite as monstrous and dam
gerous to the administration Of JUS
tice and the peace and dignity Of COM
munities, namely, the misrepresenta-
ton of facts concerning cases in court
and events in public activities, these
Misrepresentation being indulged in
to further some special purpose that
mendacious journalism has in view
A recent striking Illustration of this Is
found in the local excitement worked
up in San Francisco concerning a
change in the method Of handling
street-car transfers. Recently a man
was arrested there for battery upon a
car conductor, the difficulty growing
out of one Of these transfer rows. The
case was called In one of the Police
Courts Of the city, and 1t appearing
that the defendant had been misled by
false and malicious statements of a
heartless press concerning the right Of
the street-car company in the matter
OF transfers, it was consented that the
case against the man be dismissed,
which was done.
The Judge Of the court said nothing
In the case concerning Its merits; there
was no judicial Interpretation. no pass
ing upon the law In the case, no de-
nunosation or laudation; In Short the
court said nothing and there was
neither opportunity nor occasion for 1t
to say anything in the case. But the
same papers which have been foment-
ing these difficulties and doing their
utmost to create trouble concerning the
transfer system, announced that the
Judge of the Police Court had de-
nounoed the system, scored the man
ager Of the street road. and that the
Judge had held in the case that the sys-
tenn was Illegal. was an outrage and in
violation Of the rights Of the citizens.
Now comes the San Francisco Post" Z"
and declares the statements concerning
the court to be fat, unadulterated and
shameful falsehoods, absolute inven-
tions; thatexpressions were placed In the
mouth of the court which were not
used for the very good reason that the
case was never tried, and the court had
not therefore held the transfer checks
TO be illegal.
Elsewhere we publish the article
from the "Post" making these asser-
tions, and challenging denial OF them.
Publicity Is wonderful corrective OF
evil, because the public is the great
and generally just jury. the verdict Of
which is practically final But how is
1t when the witnesses before that jury
OF the people are liars; when they in
vent, misrepresent and falsify. and do
so with the intention Of securing an un-
fair verdict from public opinion?
On Tuesday, in a San Francisco Po-
lice Court, a party was tried for incit-
ing to riot, and his excuse was that the
court had held the transfer checks to
be illegal, therefore his act was against
illegal effort to eject a passenger.
Thereupon he was asked how he had
learned that the court had SO held, and
he replied that he saw 1t in the Exam
iner." At this one Of the attorneys