New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-14
GAG LAW DOES NOT GAG.
NEWSPAPERS HIT BACK.
Pennypacher Defed an Cartoons and
Editorials.

Philadelphia MAY 13.-Universal indignation
at the spirit of the Salus-Grady Libel law
is seasoned with keen appreciation of the re-
narkable explanation issued by Governor Pen
nypacker when he signed the measure Edito-
rally. every newspaper in the city has to-day
criticised unsparingly the signing of the meas
ure. but now that it is actually signed, there
is not a single newspaper proprietor who regards
it in the slightest degree calculated 10 accom-
plish the purpose for which it was designed
With one accord editors and proprietors de-
clared to The Tribune's correspondent to-day
that the only disagreeable consequence of the
new law would be that it might encourage
"shyster' lawyers to take libel suits on specuIa-
ton. and thus furnish some annoyance
Equally universal was the announced deter
mination of the papers to continue on exactly the
lines hitherto followed ignoring the existence
of the new W. But. beyond this determination
there were other interesting results likely to
follow Governor Pennypacker's act. Before the
Salus- Grady measure passed the legislature the
representatives Of the newspapers of this city
met and discussed the matter. and agreed, in
the event of its becoming a law, to force test
case at once. and carry the question of the
constitutionality Of the act to the Federal Su-
preme Court if necessary. In the mean time
a united press promises to make the legislators
who voted for this measure unpleasanty fire.
quent in the public eye.
Nor does Governor PennypaCker seem destined
to escape the satire and cartoon attack he has
resented so bitterly in the past. At least half
dozen local papers to-day INDUCED IN the
sort of cartoons severely criticised in the
Governors explanatory message. In this he
wrote
cartoon in daily journal Of May defines ines
dwarf representing the Governor of the Common
wealth stands crude stool. The stool IS SUD-
or1ir to am a
press with wheels large as those OF an OK
that when the press starts the stool and its
pant will be thrown to the ground Put into words:
is above the and greater in strength than the
government
The journal in question. this morning, printed
a cartoon showing the press actually in motion
and the ugly little dwarf and the crude stool
describing remarkable and mrth provoking
parabolas.
While every paper in the city editorially criti-
cises the new aw the comments of ex-Postmas-
ter General Charles Emory Smith in The
Press" are regarded best defining the situa-
ton In the course of a column and a half edl-
| to-iaI Mr.. Smith says:
This measure. now made law; had a double bic
| II in the hope of escaping from the unacceptable
| cartoons. The gang wanted it in the hope OF
on the Governors weakness for its own purpose
au rf tbe bfl for his own ends The act is
distinctly designed to gag the press in the interest
people. It was plotted in secret, withheld from
| the knowledge Of all whose rights and interests
| last moment. rushed through in defiance of the
ent denied "a and forced on unwilling legislators
| under lash and spur Even then It was passed
ineffaceabe stain which will rest on the name
Of the is this that hg 9I
these public grimes t and b ore9 nf t te
| press.
In discussing the matter with The Tribune
correspondent Mr.. Smith said further:
The representatives of the various newspapers
conferred advance. and there is general feel
line of attack upon the constutionality of the
law viii probably be that it enacts class legisla,
ton, since weekly papers are not included IN the
enumeration of the law. This is meant as con-
# 2as be she Gged the tha
confers on papers outside the State immunity in
| printing things prohibited for State papers, and
| this was serious objection.
r never W4S saw the Of the
| press earnest; and they are likely to get to.
| favored the bill
George Ochs of 1.-The Public Ledger" said:
suppose that the real effect of the new law on
viii be to encourage .'shyster" lawyers to harass
vindictiveness. but it does not really abridge the
liberty Of the press joined in the general Protest. t
| law was meant to be vindictive-
Its effect papers printed OUTSIDE state 7"
I suppose be indirect Technically. the agent sell
| ing any such paper containing nbellous matter Will
be liable But, aside from the spirit OF vindlctlVe-
| ness I do regard the measure as rraught with
! serious consequences
E A. Van Valkenberg, president Of the North
| American Company. publishers Of THE North
| American" the most violent anti-Quay paper IN
| the city, said:
That law doesn't amount to the paper it's written
| on. We going to express ourselves 1ust as
| stead of being deferred by this. Ours IS an anti
| QUAY paper The law was aimed at us, put we
| mean to continue exposing thieves and naming
| thugs have in the past we snail explain our
| cas- editorally tomorrow
| To get correct measure Of Governor Penny
| hacker lust read the document In which he
| explained his action-thats enough
Perhaps the following prophecy Of one Of
| Philadephia's best known journalists is the best
| forecast Of the results of the measure
| within two weeks he said to The Tribune
| correspondent Governor Pennypacker will wish
| that he could bury himself in a swamp where
| NOT even a mosquito could see him. The fun
| the press will have with him will be eau
| ton 49, -, -
| "The North American" will attack the Gov
/ ernor editoraIly tomorrow, and Ine Press
| will publish a cartoon depicting him IN the
| role Of Don Ouixote. Other papers viii SINH
| IarIv treat the matter satirically, and the net
| stimulate exactly the things IT was intended 10
| suppress.
WOULD NAME TT WITH SEWER WATER