The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-22
LAW OF COURTESY.
Mr.. Cory Says a Word About the Duty of News
Giving.

Mr.. Chappell Cory, the private secretary
of Gov. Johnston, has written this letter
to the Lsdger, of this city:
To The Ledger:-In the issue of the
Daily Ledger of the 17.h inst, find the
following editorial paragraph, abiding to
the recent correspondence between this
office and the Montgomery Advertiser:
'Mr. Chappell Cory is the one man at
the capitol who got out of the late en-
tangl ment with any credit. Mr.. Cory's
brain is as big as his heart, which Is say
ing a great deal.'
1 have my full share of that amiable
weakness which rejoices in the kindly ex-
pressions 0i ones friends. 1t is always
awkward and ungraceful to cavil at a
compliment, especially at one from The
Ledger whose evident fidelity to the
cause of truth telling and fair common.
has made so steady a gain in the esteem
ard confidence of thoughtful people.
The paragraph quoted above conveys
the idea, to the casual reader at least,
that somehow or in some way I was right
and the governor wrong, and that we are
out OF joint in this matter.
AS matter of fact / think the gov
ernor could with perfect propriety have
gone further than he did and refused 10
the Advertiser all privileges of the gov
ernor's office for the purposes of news
gath ring. There is no unwri ten law more
clearly expressed, or more commonly
acted on, or more thoroughly understood,
than the one which declares the special
facilities and privileges extended to rep
resentatives of the press are matters of
courtesy and not of right. The people
persis tently and constantly draw The dis
tindtion AMID keep this unwrltten law
alive in all their conventions, religious,
industrial and political by a resolution
inviting or according to the press the
privileges of the floor. When this cour-
tesy is abused -hey withdraw it.
The legislatures and congress extend
to the press certain facilities and priv
ileges as courtesy, ard withdraw lit
when abused.
Public officials ext End to the newspapers
every Facility for getting the news OF
their offices as a matter o. courtesy and
it would be a rather new and startling
iae to say this courtesy is not sub
jet to withdrawal If not abused.
The rights of the public, and a news
gatherer is only part of the public,
to access to the records of a public Of
fice are well defined in Brewer VS.. Wat
son, list Ala, page 299, of which the
head note is as follows:
while the books and documents of
q public office are the property of the
public, and are preserved for public usss
and purposes, it is not the unqualified
right of every citizen to demand access
to and inspection of Them; but, to en-
titie one to an inspection of such books
and documents other than judicial rec
ords he must show that he has an in
terestt therein, and desires an inspection
thereof for a legitimate purpose"
mention this written law to empha-
size that unwrftten law of courtesy, I'M
der which the business of newsgather-
ing has always BEEN conducted, under
has proven all sufficient for every news
1t is still being conducted, which has
paper entitled to courtesy, which has pro-
tect=d and still protects the public in
their right to know what is DONE which
operates with overpowering force
throughout OUR social, religious and po-
litfcal fabric, and whose gentle and pol
ished bonds are stronger and mors en-
during than any law of any book ever
written by human hands, AS a news
paper man should be loath to see the
law of mutual courtesy, so ample and so
strong in extending facilities TO the press
and in protecting the public from abuse,
exchanged for any defined and express
right. - q
The governor thinksiathe Advertiser
has abused his courtesy So do l. q
Yours very truly,
CHAPPELL CORY.
August IS. 1897.