Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-19
THE TRUE TEST or INDEPENDENCE.

Were an attempt made to convict a
man Of murder on circumstantial evil
dence, in any criminal court in this state,
it would be considered not only in ex-
ceedingly bad taste. but absolutely
brutal for any newspaper to try the case
in it's column ana find the prisoner
guilty every day in the week. Any news
paper that had the gall and assurance to
vent it's spleen against the defendant in
such a manner would be called down"
by the court, in the interests Of fair play
in the administration of justice-just as
the Anaconda Standard was rebuked by
the supreme court, when it attempted to
exercise judicial prerogatives in the
Welcome case.
In an investigation that involves the
character and standing of the state
viewed from any standpoint of observa,
tion-it would seem that a due respect
for the senate committee ought to sug-
gest the propriety of Withholding news
paper verdicts until the work of that
body shall have been completed. While
the statements brought out by witnesses
may be appropriately discussed, it is
manifestly out of place for any news
paper to draw conclusions as to the ver-
dict which the committee may see fit
to render, after both sides to the con-
troversy shall nave had a hearing. With
out waiting for the prosecution to con-
clude it's testimony, or the defense to be
heard from, the Anaconda Standard not
only announces daily that Senator Clark
has been found guilty, but it maliciously
and untruthfully accuses every news
paper in the state of being a Clark organ.
unless it degrades itself to the same
vulgar level.
The true test of independence and hon.
esty in the treatment of any cause is the
ability to insist upon fair play to both
sides. The court is looked upon as fair
and impartial because it does not render
a verdict until after the evidence is all
in and summed up. This does not imply
a belief in the moral rectitude of the de-
PENDANT. or a firm reliance upon the hon
esty Of the motives of the prosecution.
Blu it does mean a firm insistence upon
fair play. and a recognition Of the equi-
ties of h situation.
AS a public educator. no s~elf-respect-
ing newspaper can afford to belittle itself
in the estimation of the people BY rob-
bling the court Of the prerogatives given
it under the law. While it is within the
province of the press to condemn crime.
and to censure political parties for pom
duct inimical to the interests Of the pub
lic-whenever any individual ID, singled
out as a target for justice. and made
personally responsible for an alleged Of
tense against the law. he II entitled to
n impartial hearing on the facts.
This rule of equity the Standard re-
fuses to recognize in the cas- Of Senator
Clark. It's personal hatred blinds it to
every consideration of equity in the con-
sideration of the case. It froths at the
mouth and grinds it's teeth, day in and
day out. like a confirmed cataleptic in
the twilight of a sad cerebral night. 1t
seems to fear that the senate committee
may do its whole duty. instead Of only
a part Of it. M probe into the political
shortcomings of both wings Of the de-
mocracy of this state. It recognizes that