The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-22
WON'T
TAKE THE MuzzLE
3hiIadeIphia's Great DaiIiea
Open Fight on Pennypack-
er's Libel Law.
ISSUE THEIR CHALLENGE
Cartoons and Comments More Vicious
Than Ever Are Directed at the
Governor-Law Believed
Unconstitutional.

Philadelphia, May 1S.-If Governor
5ennypacker had any notion that his
irady-Safus newspaper libel bill, which
he signed yesterday, was going to be an
effective muzzle for the press, he has
been quickly ~undeceived by the attitude
of the newspapers of this city. The law
is now in effect and today's papers,
without notable exception, have accept
ed the governors challenge with vary
ing degrees of belligerency.
Public interest has been strikingly
aroused and there is a general curiosity
to know whether the governor is al
ready having papers drawn up for libel
suits based on the editorials n car
toohs in this mornings dailies, which
are not lacking in those elements OF
severe condemnation which he has per-
sonally and officially resented.
The bill does not absolutely prohibit
the publication of cartoons or articles
Of any sort, whether for the purpose of
ridicule, criticism, reproval or enlight-
anment, but this would be its effect,
for it provides suits for damages re-
sulting from alleged negligence in the
ascertainment of facts upon which such
publications are based.
To Stop the Cartoons.
1t requires also that the names of the
W y = ~ lAoSS0
at the head Of the editorial columns of
every newspaper, and its purpose Is
plainly shown to be particularly to pre-
vent h publication Of such cartoons
and articles as have moved Governor
Pennypacker and his associates to
wrath.
The Philadelphia North American,
owned by John Wanamaker, takes the
lead in contemptuous disregard for the
governors new press gag. In his ex-
planatory message the governor has
this, as announced yesterday, to say Of
a cartoon which appeared in the North
American May q:
"a cartoon in a daily journal of May
2 defines the question with entire pre-
cision. An ugly little dwarf, represent
ing the governor of the commonwealth.
subordinate to and placed alongside
of a huge printing press with wheels
as large as those OF an ox-team, and
all are so arranged as to give the idea
that When the press starts the stool
and it's occupant will be thrown to the
ground. Put into words, the cartoon
asserts to the world that the press is
.bove the law and greater in strength
than the government. No self-respect-
ing people will permit such an atti-
tude to be long maintained. In Eng
land, a century ago, the offender would
have been drawn and quartered and his
head stuck upon a pole with out the
gates. In America today his is the
kind of arrogance which tgoeth before
a fall.'"
Cartoons Printed Today.
The North American quotes this passage
this morning at the top Of the first page.
reprints the cartoon referred to and prints
another Inc larger one, showing what hap
pens when the press starts. The stool n
the governor are violently sailing through
the air, the governors clothing is in dis
array. one boot kicked off and the COVER
nor's face is a picture Of pain, chagrin
and dismay. And the press runs OF
Another cartoon, even more bold and
contemptuous, presents Senator Quay as
an owl on a tree, with the libel bill in one
hand Gust delivered, signed). and in the
other a huge coin, with the face Of Cover
nor Pennypacker in the place Of the fami-
lier Indian head on the penny The line
beneath is: 1.-THE old bird knows the worth
Of a penny
The Philadelphia Press is aver moro
.scornful and unterrtfied. Its cartoon to-
day is labeled 1.-THE gag and the gaunt-
let"
The Philadelphia Ledger, the Philadel-
pnia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Rec
ord, in less vehement language, resent the
attempt at muzzling and express their
purpose to go on publishing newspapers
exactly as before without fear. It is evil
dent that the law will soon be before the
courts on its ronstitutionaHty