The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-29
THE FLAG OF RED JOURNALISM.

TINE opinion has been expressed that to comment upon
the testimony given at murder trial. or to draw lmagi-
nary conclusions from the personal appearance of the
accused Supplemented with less fancifu pictorial rep
reservations the mans face he appeared during the
examination of the witnesses is part of dignied enter
prsng legitimate journalism. is the duty of news
paper according to this authority record the facts of daily
history without prejudice and accurately as the haste nsep
arabic from their compilation makes possible Argument2tVe
comment within such limits imposed by respectful
consideration for the truth is legitimate feature OF decent
journalism. To be legitimate however, editorial comment
be conscientious and unpuchased either by personal or
business advantage or by coin
Any other journalism than this is yellow. But if the
journalism which comments upon in court and draws
imaginary conclusions to the guilt innocence of persons
on trial for their lives of saffron hue, what words shall
fifty characterize the kind of journalism which openly and
aboveboard threatens tribunals of justice with humiliation if
they do hand down decisions which coincide with Its
opinions? Such journalism is scarcely yellow. Nor is it
green Perhaps has any color at all might be CLASSIFIED
under the crimson banner borne by the mudeous anarchists
whose hands are raised against civilization everywhere and
whose agges every and then driven to the hearts OF
the representatives of that civilization.
At the present time San Francisco is witnessing at
tempt by cardinal journal of this character control the
ton of the highest court in the State The Judges of that W
buna have been openly threatened with newspaper violence
should they decide the Supervsoa other
way than this journal Preends to think accords with the
best interests of the city. Red journalism San Francisco
has this relation thrown down the gauntlet and declared
that only shall the be conducted lines which
will subseve its ideas of right and wrong but that the law
itself shall be twisted to support its political and business
schemes.
The awful nature OF this declaration when
slider that involves the safety every person in this
ny If be budozed in the interest of pure gov
they may be budozed in the interest of corrupt
government If they to interpret the law corrupt
newspaper views it they may be compelled to interpret
other corrupt newspapers view it. If they be inmdated
public they be ntmdaed in private is,
indeed but step from the arrogant position taken by this red
journal 10 anarchy or despotism.
The members of the Supreme Court of this State are
mostly who have grown gray the study legal prn-
cps. Among them political ambition and the desire for place
aud power supposed to be dead Although all but
Republicans again and again they have demonstrated their
respect for the law by deciding political in favor of
De moTats. Although OF them in the past have been
corporation lawyers again and again they proved
freedom from the dispositions of early training by holding
porate wealth down the letter of the written and unWrtten
law In their care every Caornans Ie liberty and pros
pety ntrusted Over and again they have shown
themselves snguary mindful of the rights of gants and
particularly careful that shall suffer in his person
cept after fair trial and due process of law Everybody
has confidence that they will decide all disputes submitted
them fairly and Justly.
What reply will these Judges make to the charge that if
they find flaw in the title of the Supervisors to their
they will have sold their opinion to the corporaons7
Probably they will make reply all AS they type
press, they have facilities for throwing mud and they
may treat with contemptuous silence all assaults upon their
good name.
But will the people, interested at all times in the mainte-
nance of orderly and legal government and in tribunals
which shall be left free examine into and try disputes
cordng the rules of law tamey submit seeing red jour
nasm magn and deame for expoundng the law it
isl Probably there danger that the Supreme Court will
be budozed 1t has been through campaigns like this before
The people generally have confidence in and will abide by
its rulings though they may not agree with them.