The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-04-24
ASTORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
DEcENCY IN NEWSPAPER WORK.

DECENCY IN NEWSPAPER WORK
During the past week the people of Astoria have
had occasion to observe the extent to which news
paper may do man an injustice and injure his char
acer by its refusal to decenty apologize for its own
misstatement The facts are still fresh in public
memory A young man engaged as circulator for The
Astorian was charged in the Evening Budget with
having grossly insuted women while canvassing for
subscribers 1t was alleged many complaints had
investigation or notice to the solicitor the newspaper
printed a most yenomous attack upon him, branding
him as scoundrel whose conduct warranted his ar
rest upon most serious charge.
The Indignation of the young man was largely
overcome by his grief He had been in the city but
few months and this assault upon his character was
to him crushing blow He knew there was not the
slightest foundation in fact for the attack but what
means to take the right the wrong that had been done
him was problem which he found it difficult to
solve. He finally decided upon the only reasonable
course open to him, and called upon the publisher
of the Budget to ask that the charge be proven On
the fmsy pretext that the soictorwasa few moments
behind an appointed hour in arriving at the Office
Of the newspaper, the publisher declined to further
discuss the matter with him, nor would he divulge
the name of the accuser or otherwise give the young
man an opportunity to establish his innocence
We know just how the people of Astoria feel in
this matter They are unit in agreeing that nc
greater injustice was ever done any one than that
done H. J. Langoe Hundreds Of persons have made
the acquaintance of the young man since his ar
rival in the city, and all have formed for him warm
friendship, because of his gentlemanly bearing at
all times His intimate friends know he never uses
the remotest truth in the published assertion that he
had cursed women who had refused to subscribe for
the paper which he has so capaby represented.
1t is not so much to desire to further defend the
young to point out the unalloyed villainy of
the unscrupulous attack that we are discussing the
matter at this time. After the Budget had printed
its sanderous attack it replied to the defense of the
young man with an even more abusive utterance,
concluding with the statement that it would mot
further discuss the NATTER 1t had lied deliberately
and maciously in an effort to dscredit an attache
Of rival publication, and, with characteristic ef
frontery, had disregarded all the rules of decency
by refusing the victim Of its venom the opportunity
of disproving its statement. When man is accused
Of having insulted woman he is charged with about
as grave an offense as is possible. 1t would seem
that any man with a spark of decency would gladly
afford him the opportunity Of proving his innocence
Ownership of newspaper, either great or small,
does not license a man to thus magn another, how
ever much the publisher may be nettled because Of
legitimate loss of business.
The Budget ought to be thoroughly ashamed of
itself for this contemplate piece of business and we
must confess surprise and grief that it has failed to
apologize to Mr. Langoe for the wrong done him.
The incident will not serve to increase the public's
estimation Of the evening publication but will stamp
that journal as unworthy the confidence Of fair
minded people