Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-18
The EDITORS PUBLIC Duly.

THE EDITORS PUBLIC DUTY.
A libel suit against a newspaper is al
Mays of large public interest, hence the
endeavor on another page OF this issue
cent case against the Times Republican,
But there is one point involved that has
always seemed to the editor very inn
portant one and if fully understood by
the public or more clearly set forth In
! the statutes would greatly lessen the
number of libel suits. That is the public
about matters of public interest, to
publish the news.
| Often this duty imposes a most dis
agreeable task upon an editor. He has
set himself up in the business of pub
| fishing the news. He hangs out sign
| to that effect, goes forth and sells sub
scriptions to his paper, possibly receiv-
Ing thousands upon thousands of dollars
therefore. and what is his guarantee?
| What ia his part OF the contract with
the public for which he has received this
much of the publics money? Manifestly
to print the news, to spend time and
money and employ men In seeking out
the truth ard publishing the facts about
effairs of which the public wishes to
know.
With fhiS G. "a him a Tapo
young man is arrested and the mother
weeping and shaking with grief begs the
editor not to publish the fact. What ia
the editor to do? He is human, his sym
pathies are with the mother, but the
public has his contract to print the
news, and believing him a man to keep
bis contract has relied upon him to pub
FISH the facts. and he does. Straightway
that young man and all his friends ac-
cuse the editor of some malicious pur-
pose Or perhaps the boys father is an
advertising patron of the EDITORS. The
duty remains the same and when per-
formed the patronage is withdrawn. Or
again an EDITORS personal friend may go
wrong or do things of which the public
has right to know. There is the same
duty, the same contract. the same public
reliance upon the editor to publish facts
without fear or favor. and yet there is
the friend affected, the Inundated wife
and family, and the editor wishes he
rever was born.
1t il often the greatest disappoint-
ment of an EDITORS life to have his
motives eternally imugned when he
is struggling against his own interests
to faithfully discharge his duties as
publisher OF news. He criticizes an
officer or set of officers and immediate
having designs on the Office himself.
He favors this measure and the other
fellow owns him, it Is claimed.
Friends, even, neglect to defend his
honesty of purpose and silence wanton
criticism of his motives. Editors, it
is true, grow hardened to these I'M
warranted imputations, but If the pub
lie would view a publication from the
EDITORS standpoint there would be |
fewer libel suits and fewer disappoint- |
ed litigants. Every man should ask |
himself the question For what do |
pay my subscriptions" He pays for
the news, for the facts, for the time |
and labor of skilled men working, per-
haps, by the hundreds for a single
in gathering the news,
for the truth and publishing
the facts. With this situation under
stood the laws of the land should en-
pressly grant to the press inherent
privilege to publish facts so long as
they are facts. AS the court has large
license to speak his mind because of
his position as defender of the public's
rights. A newspaper should have the
same right for the same reason.
A newspaper Is not created by
aw for this express purpose, but
It is time that the laws Of all states
recognize this function OF the press to
protect and inform the public of facts
and the truth, and III case of palpablo
error to give to the editor an oppor-
unity for correction or at least al
ow him in defense to establish the
sincerity Of his motives.