Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-12-02
Major Smith Promises Iuvestig-
alton of New York News
papers Past, /.
HELD ON TRUMpED-UP CHARGES,
Laffan's Malice Apparently Due to
Active Part Taken by Major Smith
and American Press Association, In
Associated Press war on U. P.

NEW YORK, Dec 2.-Major Orlan-
do j. Smit president OF the American
Press Association, As Park Place, gave
out the following statement concern
ing his arrest by the New York Sun
on charge of criminal libel.
Il and two employees of the Ameri-
can Press Association, Mr.. FISHER and
Mr.. Mcnamara, were arrested sum
marfly on Tuesday evening last on a
charge of criminal libel made by the
New York Sun Printing company The
charge is based on the assumption that
the American Press Association stere-
otyped for the New York Typograph-
zeal union a statement concerning that
unions controversy with the New York
Sun and that Mr.. FISHER and Mr.. Nc
Namara of the American Press Asso-
citation sold to a detective of the New
York Sun for 20 cents a stereotype
plate containing the matter referred to.
Do They Fear the Journal?
Apart from the fact that | had no
knowledge of the existence of the 1y-
biographical union article against The
Sun until | was arraigned in court on
the charge of being criminally respon-
sible for it, this action on the part of
The Sun seems peculiar in many re-
spects. The article alleged to be libel
GUS contains the name OF its author,
who has not been arrested. 1t is odd
that If the article be libeIous its author
should be ignored by The Sun and the
alleged stereotypers held as response
BILE. Moreover, The Sun has been often
assaulted III language more violent and
with charges much more serious than
in the Typographical union article
without provoking any action, criminal
or civil, by that newspaper. Within the
last two months the New York Journal
has administered to The Sun a severe
castigation in prominent type. eontin-
ued or repeated through many issues
and containing the most serious
charges that | have ever known to be
made against a newspaper. The Sun
did not begin all action against The
Journal, nor did it attempt once, | am
informed to answer the charges. That
The Sun should ignore this serious and
really injurious assault and yet begin
criminal action against people
charged with selling to one of The
Suns detectives a piece of stereotype
metal is, as | have said, odd and Pc
euliar
Smith Helped His Defeat.
1.-THE explanation will be found, |
believe, in the malice OF William M
Laffan of The Sun. His most amhi
tious project perhaps was the United
Press, through which some years ago
he sought TO control for himself and
his associates the general telegf4 phic
press news of the United States At
one time his success was almost COM
plete. In the long and bitter contest
between the United Press and Associ-
ated Press, | and the association with
which | am connected contributed all
that we could of time, thought. zeal
and cash To the defeat of the United
Press, which institution ended its ca
reer finally IN destruction and bank
ruptcy. 1t is probable that no other
defeat rankles so much in Mr. Laffan S
mind as the failure OF the United
Press, and that his hatred OF those
who contributed to its overthrow viii
never be fully appeased. And so / ac-
court on a fiimsy charge OF criminal
libel :"
Major Smith made d further state
ment regarding the hearing, which
came off Friday afternoon:
Il and my associates will come up
for examination in the criminal court
this afternoon at o'clock. If one or
all Of us should be held for the action
OF the grand jury, we shall demand an
immediate trial OF the merits of the
case, which, | am informed, we have
a right to ask at the preliminary trial
The action against us is peculiar. per-
haps without a precedent 1t is an ae-
ton for the libel OF The Sun Printing
company and really of The Sun news
paper That The Sun newspaper
known perhaps as the most persistent
and malicious libeler and slanderer in
all newspaperdom should itself BEGIN
an action for criminal libel is humor-
Gus fact
The more interesting phase Of the
case. however, is this. The character
OF a newspaper is an open record 1t
may he difficult TO prove on establish in
court the real character Of an indiyid-
ual. With newspaper it is different.
Its character is determined by what it
prints and its moral history Is pre-
served accurately and infinitely in its
files
The issue to which we shall invite
The Sun people if | or one of my asso-
ciates shall be held on the petty and
trumped UP charges made against us is
this Has The Sun newspaper any
character to be libeled, any good repu-
tation to be injured?
vii. Show Up SUMS Record.
And promise that the inquiry shall
be complete and exhaustive. We shall
take the files of The Sun into court
and prove from them the record of that
newspaper for fairness or unfairness.
charity or harshness, Kindness or NAL