New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-08
PROTEST OF THE EDITORS.
Mpnr1NG HELD TO TAKE ACTION
AGAINST THE ELLSWORTH BILL"
REVOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT ALBANY BY hhf""
SENTATIVE NEWSPAPER MEN S'o"
ALL PARTS OF THE STATE

All PARTS OF THE STATE
Albany. March Editors ana pfop'ie've T.. .,,.
..ners from all parts OF tho state asse''" " -,
c,tv this afternoon to protest against inc
newspaper bill and TO confer as 10 the pe'' H..
- 6.fea, ts massage Among the men present We'e
~ D-...,,. pouav ~ The Utica Observer; d. .
ry,rh,ouck and Mr. Wilson, The Troy ZINES
Ersnklin Bartlett, The New-Hork sun IT, -
Nurlin THE New-york Tribune: A. W. MUM"
The watertown STANDARD: Charles f. hatuea"'
.-The Auburn Bulletin. John n Farre"' i"e ~
eany Times Union; james C. Farrell ana a. ~
Hovt The Albany Argus; William Barnes. ]r'
THE Albany Journal: F. r Willard Inc hocn-
.s,er memorial and Chronicle; William n jones'
..rhc SYRACUSE Post; W. II. Greenhew, The HOT
neIlsvii,. Tribune" Otto A. Meyer. Ihe Ouca
Press: John A. Slecher. 'Lesles Weekly W. j.
Arkeu. Judge: Arthur Jenkins. The syracuse
Herald" Norman l.. Mack. The Buffalo Times .
T. r. Butler THE Buffalo News John F. Nash.
The Syracuse Courier" Resolutions were adopted
follows:
We representatives OF the newspapers throughout
the state Of York irrespective OF party T S5,o
seventh day Of March, 1895 do resolve,
There Is now under s sn,S
An at 10 prohibit and punish the publication ana
senat o. b No w. rSSTn N &
ally known as the Ellsworth Libel bill, and
provisions OF said proposed law now. therefore. DO
First-That tho elimination o. the word ']bellouS
from the Original bill does not in any way affect the
scope or operation OF the bill and does not remove
act forth
second-Thst the bill is UNCONSTITUTIONAL because
the press and thus violates Section s. Article l. Of
the Constitution which has been part OF our
sanic law since the adoption OF the Constitution OF
Third-Tho bill IA unconstitutional because IT dc.
prfves US OF that constitutional safeguard which
provides that IN all criminal prosecutions and In
aietments ior hoels the truth may be given In cyl
Jury that the matter charged as libeious is true
and was published with good motives and for
Under the FL sworth bin an indicted editor or pub
Usher could not prove the truth Of any publca-
Fourth--The Ellsworth bill violates those ele-
mental PRINCIPLES Of right and justice which guar.
defend himself ard Justify his action. and. further,
,e for an aesed orence after prep scGtta
The bill provides Tor Indictment for no specific
SeeaSse Of general gi dsfa No particular 0'oS OUT
Fifth-The Ellsworth bill Is wicked and per
convicted without any proof OF guilt A file OF
.he paper any number thereof or any extract
dence will be sufficient 10 secure n conviction. al
though each 81 the twelve e," EN- might con-
offence
six,h-words written or published arc the act.
written constitution exists the right 10 have the
to Be- q at On scn wsc
published by the accused In a free country no
man should be indicted or tried for alleged general
badness
sevelth-The second section 0; tn, bill compelling
the daily publication by every newspaper OF the
names Of every owner proprietor. publisher and
editor OF such paper under penalty OF fine and I'm:
prisonment. creates new and fantastic crime and
inficts unusual burden upon newspapers. depriv-
ms them Of their property without due process OF
law.
Elghth-Unusual punishmsnts are grouped to-
gether IN the bill, which. on It's face, discloses a
primitive or vndictlve spirit Fine and imprison-
rnent are not sufficient but the prohibition to make
continued livelihood, the forfeiture OF charter and
punishment for contempt are added terrors to deter
the editor from the exercise OF any freedom OF ut
terance or liberty Of discussion
Ninth-The right OF editor or publisher 70 be
tried In the county where his paper Is printed.
aranteed by statute, Is taken away. and, under
the proposed law. facile jury IN remote county
could convict the accused OF imaginary tendency
70 indefinitely corrupt deprave.
Tenth-Cnder this bill newspaper could be de-
s,royed and it's property ruined without due process
OF law. as any news agent or newsboy selling the
is made guilty of the various offences created
and the fear OF this liza bty could be used 10
terminate any designated newspaper
Eleventh-The Penal Code. as II stands. is drastic
and more than adequate TO protect the Individual
and the community from publications either de-
famatory or indecent. and good purpose
be served by the enactment 90 this unnecessary,
htrary, unconstitutional and unjust legislation,
which might be used as were the LettreS de Cachet
10 consign offender 10 the B8stle.