The record-union., 1899-07-23

spondents want a free hand, and nat
urallys enough General Otis does not
want to commit his duty as military
commander to the mercies of corre-
spondents,.w are irresponsible, amen
able to no order, and not to be called
to account before any tribunal, except
1T is a military one. Their right,
therefore, sinks to privilege" and
that alone All privileges are condi-
toned, since the very term implies that
there is no basis of personal right in
volved.
The Government is not running news
papers nor news agencies, but is en-
deavoring to crush a rebellion and full
fill the obligations it has assumed un-
der a solemn treaty with Spain. That
is the paramount consideration; all
other interests are subordinate to that
consideration. 1t may be unpleasant
If the news gatherers do not compre-
hend the full meaning of war, the off1ce
of martial law and the military neces-
sites under which war is prosecuted'
but assuredly they have no right rising
superior to the duty of the men car
rying on the military campaign.
Nor have the people of the United
States an absolute right to what the
news gatherers consider news. 1t is
conceded that publicity is the greatest
of correctives, but that remedy Is not
to be applied to the injury of the plan
of campaign, the military necessity, or
the office of war when the object of the
latter is to assert and defend the rights
of the people. Nor do the people claim
any such right They have commits
stoned men chosen because of their
training to the art of war to prosecute
it and we always have and always Will
trust them to do their duty until 1t is
obvious that they are no longer equal
to the task.
1t is the military, not the newspaper
judgment that is to determine what
will be harmful to the cause II pub
lished broadcast From that there can
be no escape. 1t follows that any pro-
test that their correspondents rights
as news gatherers are infringed in
jurisdiction where martial law is su-
preme, is ridiculous. since they have
no individual rights there whatever
The war correspondent is neither ne
cessity nor a recognized arm of the
army. AS he is merely privileged, that
privilege may be in whole or in part
suspended at the pleasure of the mill
tary. 1t always has been so and always
must of necessity.
When war correspondents are organ
lied as part of the military staff, as
the Fresno Republican" suggests, then
they will fall under military direction
and control orderly an6 wholly; that
ought to be their standing, and some
day will be. Until then they are simply
tolerated, a condition that we concede
is not the best. 1t would be far better
If they were organized as a military
staff, their rights, privileges and Eber-
ties defined by military law, and they
made directly amenable to military dis
clptiuS. SuCu d SLdH WOulQ nave, DIS q
matter of course. it's censor as every
managing editor on every journal is the
censor of it's own Office.
Viewing the question of the newspa-
per correspondents complaint broadly,
we hold that Judgment should not be
formed upon it. That confidence should
not be shaken in the commanding Cen
eral by it; that by every dictate of
justice and fair play he should be heard
from, and until he chooses or is per-
mitted to speak to the public, the trust
reposed in him should not be with
drawn. Over him are superiors COM
missioned by the laws and the theory
of government to call him to account.
The public conserves it's own interest
best, therefore. by not passing judg-
ment on him upon the complaint of men
who have not military responsibility
imposed upon them.
The scandal charges relating to the