The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-31
Pingree and the Press.

Governor Pingree, of Michigan, is
an eccentric individual whom it is easy
to ridicule; yet in letter to the Out
lock he presents some opinions con-
cerning daily newspapers which de-
served to be considered seriously His
letter is a denial of certain published
interviews upon which the Outlook
has commented; and in the course of
it he says
Experience has taught me that it is
useless to deny a newspaper state
ment. The public man who questions
the veracity of reporter, or disputes
the authenticity of an interview or
other newspaper article, receives from
the editor nothing but sneers and
abuse and the ridicule of the cartoon.
In fact, it is not uncommon to have
ones denial misinterpreted and twist
ed into an admission of the truth of
the disputed article. The editor never
recedes from position once taken.
His moral atmosphere and his ethical
code are too limited and narrow to
admit that himself and his journal
have erred. A just correction can be
wrung from a newspaper only through
the instrumentality of a libel suit.
think that every public man will pri-
Vately, at least, agree with these con-
clusions, and those with sufficient cour-
age to antagonize such a powerful in
stitution as the daily press will pub
licly assent to them. 1t is a familiar
saying that the newspaper can make
or unmake nan in public life. This
may have been true in the past, when
the newspaper more nearly approach
ed the ideal. IL is perhaps true to
certain extent today; but believe the
time is not far distant when the hy-
pocrisy and selfshness and venality
of the press will show through it's al
legged virtues, and reveal to the pub
lie the true. inwardness of modern
newspaper policy and management. At
newspapers will then have no effect
upon the public mind. Yellow Jour
nalism is already Synonymous with
everything that is contemplate and
corrupt, and it will not be long before
public sentiment will crystallizc into
laws which will make fake interviews
and other methods used by newspap-
ers of attacking public men criminal,
The spirit of fairness characteristic
of the American people will not long
tolerate the prostitution of the power
of the press to such base purposes.
The liberty of the press cannot al
ways be appealed to as a Justification
for an instrument of injury which is
infinitely more dangerous that outright
| abuse and vilfication."
Governor Pingree's arraignment. OF
course, is too sweeping and too severe
1t applies to some newspapers very ac-
| curately; but not to all-not to a ma
| jority. The statement, for example,
that threat of a libel suit Is neces-
sary to secure a Just correction
is wide of the truth in "A
| large majority Of instances; the
threat more often acting to initiate
against than TO facilitate correction.
| Any honest editor is glad TO undo an
| error when shown in a civil manner
that one has been committed. But that
same editor resents being bullied and
| is likely TO show his resentment by
| limiting a correction to the fewest
words possible when if the manly
course had been adopted in approach
ing him he would have volunteered a
generous reparation. AS for the state
ment that an editor never recedes, here
again we have an example of the too
sweeping assertion. The dogmatlc,
would-be infallible editor is rapidly
going out of date. People these days
think for themselves. They are willing
! that the editor should suggept ideas 70