The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-17
WASSERMAN, KAUFMAN 6 co.


as nearly every article passes through
at least two hands, and the man who
writes the article is not the one who
determines its final form. Any prac-
teal law on the subject could only re-
suit, as it has in France, in the regu-
lar employment of a responsible" edi-
tor, who has nothing to do with what
goes into the paper, but undertakes to
defend whatever. may appear against
all corners. He is a fighting editor
pure and simple. In Germany they
have a Jail editor, whose business it is
to sit which is the German eu-
phemism for going to Jail, whenever
the paper runs afoul the lese majestic
laws.
Seriously, this anti-newspaper cru
sade is worse than a mere bad joke
The legislative proposals that have at
tracted attention are pure freak bills,
but the tendency to introduce and even
pass them indicates a breach between
the official and unofficial organs of
public opinion that is unfortunate. A
newspaper is nothing if it is not at
once a leader and follower of pubic
opinion. and a lawmaking body is moth
ing except under the same conditions
Most newspapers and most legislative
bodies fulfill these conditions, and IL
there is discord just now it is because
some California legislators and solce
California newspapers are just now ex-
ceptfonally bad.
ASSAILING THE PRESS.
Amador Ledger: Some members OF
the present Legislature seem to nave a
grudge or spite against the newspaper
fraternity, Judging from the number or
laws that have been proposed, with the
newspaper man as both the subject ana
the object. One proposed amendment
to our laws is that the provision re-
curing a bond of $500 to be filed before
an action for libel can be commenced
shall be repealed If that law is re-
nealed every irresponsible person in the
state will be encouraged to begin libel
suits to harass and annoy newspaper
editors. The measure ought to and
will be defeated.
VICIOUS LEGISLATION.
Davisville Enterprise The San Fran
cisco morning papers, after reducing
their columns to mere blackmalhng
ma chimes which have given journalism
in the whole State the iH-will OF almost
all public men, find themselves the SUD
ject of direct legislation at the STATE
Capito-not themselves alone, though.
II the bills which have been proposed
could be made to apply only to these
morning dailies perfect justice would
be the result, but to get at these the
Legislators have proposed laws which,
| if passed, would place every newspaper
editor in the State in very danger
l.ous position. The anti-cartoon bill
proposed by Works is the direct out
come of the vile cartoons OF the three
papers above referred to, yet to keep
down the evil pictures a bill has been
drafted which will exclude almost, II
not quite, all cartoons from every paper
in the State.
A BID FOR LITIGATION.
Chico Enterprise: That homicide bill
introduced by Morehouse, and the bill
to change the present law providing for
the filing of bond of $500 before be-
ginning a libel suit, are alike ridicu-
lous, and are introduced to curtan the
freedom of the press Should the last
named bill pass, amy old thing could
bring suit for libel on any Imaginary
grounds. without filing any bond what
ever tt. cover the cost of suit should he
be defeated. The editor would have to
pay his attorney fee and the court S
| fee, without the possibility Of collect
ing them back from the plaintiff should
he lose the suit.
THE KILLING OF EDITORS.
Marysvlue Appeal viii life be worth
living when. the following pipe dreams