The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-25
THE LIBEL LAW.

Denison Herald. The honest, upright
citizen should have no fear of Just libel
law. With others Il Is different
Fort Worth Mail Telegram: with the
failure to pass a libel law and It's attacks
on the fewsgatherers IL surely does appear
that the legislature wants to stop educa-
tion In the State.
Sherman Register: The newspapers of
Texas will make an issue in the next cam
paign OF lust libel law, and will pa
tlentiy remerber those representatives
who have SO persistently refused to give
them Justice this time.
San Antonio Light: The friends of tho
libel law are legion and they are hopeful,
but their hopes are in the act OF a leg
islature that has not the courage of its own
convictions. nor the viii to take any lie
cislve stand on any subject that comes be-
fore them and which has been discussed
until there Is general interest Ia IT,.
They are either afraid OF their own shad-
ows or Of that Of the government.
Segun Enterprise: We understand that
there is decided change OF feeling In the
legislature In favor OF cnacting a civil
statute on libel and making it q law In
this State as II is in thirty eight others.
This revolution Of thought Is due 10 a
study of the question and the pleas Of the
press. which prayers for relief when eX-
amined win convince the most skeptical
that the rights OF the public are fully
protected and that It is Justice and justice
only that he press asks for.
Comanche Chief The newspapers OF
this State Will mover be given simple JUS
tice in the way OF a. libel law as long as
the people elect lot of coon hunters and
snake eharmers to misrepresent them in
the legislature There are few compe-
tent, unpurchasable men In both houses,
but they are so scattering that they are
unable to accomplish anything IL they hap
pen TO incur the displeasure and opposition
of the unwashed. The average cross road
politician and demagogue IS afraid OF a
free. outspoken newspaper. because the
editor knows exaetly where to place him
and will not hesitate to expose his schemes.
Eel Campo Eagle: There are a certain
class of papers that oppose the idea OF a
necessity for libel law to protect news
papers in publishing the news. moment
OF time spent IN the perusal of any OF these
sheets would convince the suffering reader
that these journalistic jumping jacks are
correctly judging She situation by their
own security. Not one OF the papers TAX
ing position against this demanded legi5-
lotion has enterprise enough to express an
opinion that would contrary public approve
al They are absolutely worthless, and
the only law that would touch them would
be an act to protect the people against
frauds.
I'll Campo Eagle: Public opinion almost
unanimously endorses the pleadngs of the
State press for a law that will protect 1t
in its iteorts to print the news and thereby
enlighten and protect humanity, but so far
the legislature has not given the greal y
needed assistance Newspapers of the bet
ter class have no desire to become sensa-
ton mongers, and the law for which we
plead does not offer protection to such
| low class journalism. But we do pray
for protection against damage suits for
telling the truth about such matters aud
conditions as directly interest the public.
The press can submit to being muzzler
but seriously objects to being gagged.
Lockhart Post: What injustice has the
newspaper fraternity ever done the people
or the legislature that we can not get even
Justice? We are not camorlng for an un-
equal or partial libel law. but we do want
| Justice and fair dealing, and why the legis-
lature does not hearken to the pieadings
OF the papers of Texas is more than the
ordinary editor can understand. II we
were unreasonable and exact there might
be some excuse, but then we are not, we
only ask the legislature to do unto us rs
they would have others do unto them,
Perhaps the legislature at the eleventh
hour will give us the law yet we remind
| them that next In Importance to the legis-
lature is the newspaper.