The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-28
JAHARTING A LAW.

Minnesotans have the consolation of
knowing that there are legislatures In
other states even more asinine than any
they have paid for spelling good paper in
enacting fool laws. California established
its claim to pre-eminence over Mime
sofa, if not over the legislature of any
state in the Union. 1t was not only that
the boodlers so dominated 1t that no cleo
ton of a senator was possible, for, how
ever unintentional was the outcome. the
result is most fortunate for the country
that senator thus selected will not re-
fnforce men from the same mill in the
senate. Its claim to higher grade of
foolishness than Minnesota legislatures
have yet attained was in the passage of
a law that requires every 'sarticle, state
ment and editorial in a newspaper to be
signed by the writer thereof
Whether to ignore the law, so stupidity
senseless on its face as to stamp it a
dead letter from its birth, or to obey 1t
was the question presented to California
papers. To ignore it was the easier way,
for literal compliance with the act pre-
sented difficulties that every newspaper
man will readily perceive, however simple
1T might seem to the sort of intellects
selected in California to make UP a Re-
publican legislature. The Argonaut, how
ever, belongs to the class of papers which
believe that the law should be obeyed,
and that the best way to secure the re-
ment. The latest issue of that very in
dependent and excellent paper opens it's
editorial page with a long apology for
the signature of the editors own name
TO every article, statement and edito-
rial in the paper. and why it is that his
own name and not those of the members
of his staff is given. He assumes that
as he is the responsible head of the pa
per, debating it's policy, suggesting,
where he does not write, the treatment
of topics, he alone is the writer of all
that appears in his paper a position the
accuracy of which every newspaper man
will admit
Then follow the various "articles,
statements and editorials" Of the paper.
the society news, the musical notes, the
sporting news, the book notices and liter
ary notes, the column of storiettes culled
from uncredited sources, each and every
one followed by the name Of the editor.
But, to make the absurdity of the law
more apparent. all except the sexplana-
tory editorial, which bears the name of
Jerome A. Hart. each and every item in
the entire paper Is followed by the name
''jahart" in Flower case" and in agate
type. whether the reading matter preced-
ing it is set in minion or nonpareil,
Nothing could better set off the ridicu-
lousness Of the law and bring it and
its authors into contempt. The process
may be aptly termed 'jaharting''
The Argonaut is Republican to the core,
Notwithstanding its Independent attitude
but Mr.. Hart regrets being obliged to
admit that a majority of the late .legis-
i"'oio was iNepuoHcdH' ana tnen pro-
| ceeds to present a terrific arraignment OF
its party in that state. He 4recounts the
notorious corruption that prevailed dur
ing the senatorial contest "The Repub-
lican party in California must be purged
of rogues,' declares the .frate editor. ut
terly reckless Of the decimating effect
of his decree. But If the Republican
party should chastise their leaders, he
concludes, will the people of California
think that Justice has yet been done? Or
Will justly outraged people also .chastise
the Republican party, and with whips OF
scorpions fog them from the halls of the
commonwealth which they have defiledo'