Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-24
PRESS LIBERTY AND LIMITS.

The freedom Of the press Is dear to
every lover OF liberty. II Is protected
by the Constitution Of our country.
Without II the most fragrant abuses in
official life and power would so UNI
rebuked and unexposed II Is enjoyed
in the United States In greater de-
gree perhaps than in any nation upon
the earth.
Sometimes that freedom extends into
license, 1t intrudes into private az
fairs. II invades the home circle. II
presumes to have the right of prying
into the personal doings and opinions
Of prominent men and women II
parades before the public many things
that ought not TO be disclosed. 1t then
becomes somewhat Of nuisance and
needs salutary check.
Notwithstanding these occasional ex-
cesses, the American press IL a mighty
power for good. There IL nothing to
be compared with it as dissemination
OF general Information. II Is the great
engine on the modern road Of progress
and Intelligence. A little restraint,
however should be put upon II In some
directions, but this should come from
legitimate source. The guiding hands
and brains Of this mighty force should
exercise such discretion as will suppress
any tendency to evil Laws are neces-
sary in this direction, but great care
must be exercised so that legislation
shall not cripple the energies which are
so active for the benefit OF mankind.
The press reporter Of the present time
is, OF necessity. an almost irrepresslble
and ubiquitous person. He is an ex-
aggerated interrogation mark. Much
allowance should be made for him in
his apparent forwardness not to say
lmpertinence. II Is his business TO find
out things. II is not his business 20
invent when facts cannot be had; he Is
supposed to chronicle the truth. II Is
poor policy TO attempt TO hide from him
particulars that may properly be print
ed. He IS bound to get as near TO the
bottom OF public affairs as possible,
Heads OF departments Of all kinds
should aid him rather than block his
way. so that he may not be compelled
to resort to guess-work for items.
on the other hand, reporters should
not forget that sometimes reticence on
the part of public officials, in reference
to matters that ought TO be held back
from the public, az least for a season,
is not only excusable but commendable.
For instance, the detection OF crime
and the apprehension Of criminals may
depend entirely upon temporary Sc
crecy. II everything relating to II and
them is disclosed In the public prints,
the ends OF justice may be defeated.
There are rules, also, by which public
officials are expected TO be governed.
and the enforcement thereof ought not
TO be counted a fault OF ridlculed as an
assumption.
We notice that the chief OF police In
this city has been held up to public
scorn and derision because OF the
stand he has taken in regard TO the in
discriminate issuance Of information
FOR the papers. by every person con-
nected with his office, This We regard |
as unjust criticism. A rule OF the po-
lice department has been established
since 1890 as follows;
'Rule 4i--No member Of the force
shall communicate TO anyone outside
Of the force, any information pertaining !
20 the business Of the department, or
the procedure for the protection OF any !
person wanted, without specific permis- |
sion from the chief"
All the papers OF this city desire and !
expect 10 obtain and publish proper
information concerning the doings Of |
the police force and court, and they |
look for assistance from the chief in I
accomplishing this proper object. But |
they should also cheerfully give /
due regard to the duties incumbent /
upon him in the position he is called /
upon 10 MI, under the regulations per- /
tanning TO his department. Let the I
liberty OF the press be maintained, and |
the responsibility Of public officials at
the same time be recognized