Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-02-04

Our unique Governor is plainly de-
termined that criticism OF his remark
able acts shall NOT he permitted to dwell
too long on single phase. Confronted
with the protests Of the press and also
Of the judiciary against bis unrivaled
use Of the appointing power to provide
for himself place on the Supreme
Bench he gives the public a new topic
Of amazement by declaring that Penn
sylvania, of all American. Common
wealths, was the first to recognize the
degeneracy Of the press, and che alone
has provided law for the correction
of that evil"
The fact that the yaunted law added
nothing whatever to the legislation. on
the subject, except to encourage petty
suits for non-libe1ous errors, is a minor
phase OF this illumination. Its promi-
nence is In the fact that the Governor
Of the great State Of Pennsylvania de-
clares that the press not alone Of his
State but Of the entire nation is degen-
crate. The Gubernatorial condemna-
tion has advanced several points since
the deliverance on the Salus-G Grady leg
islation, Then the theory was that the
press as . whole was pretty well be-
hsved But because there were obnox-
ious examples which made fun Of the
Gubernator1a1 boots the entire macs
must be exposed to petty prosecutions.
Now the condemnation takes in the
whole mass.
The only explanation for this pro-
gress to the stage Of universal coDdem-
nation Is that the press has spoken very
freely and not fatteringly of the Gu
bernatorial project to use the appoint
Ing power to provide for his own future
In way that shocks every sense OF
public morality where it exists. But If
the press is degenerate for that revul-
sion there are indications that the de-
generacy il contagious. Members of
the bar appear to be degenerate The
occupants Of that lofty bench to which
the Governor aspires must be getting
degenerate since some.if not all, of them
are protesting against the scandal. In
deed, the danger threatens that the de-
generacy may become epidemic and
spread over the whole State, excepting.
Of course. the political machine which
trades in Offices and turns out legislation
Z, order. That Is proof against any
such degeneracy as cares for public
morals.
The real significance to the press of
Pennsylvania Of this fulminatian is not
that It was uttered by the Governor,
who has long taken himself outside the
realms Of argument. 1t Is that it was
uttered at gathering of the political
organization that rules Pennsylvania,
for the glorifcation OF its active mana-
ger, who exerted an arbitrary AMI law
less power TO force the passage Of the
Salus-G Grady job, and that it evoked no
dissent from the political rulers. I'm
der those circumstances there appears
TO be an onus on the press Of PeDnsyl-
vania, and particularly the Republican
press. to show whether it is degenerate
or not.
There has been an obvious and newt
able disposition among Republican
newspapers to speak freely of the amaz-
ing Governor. But there In still dis
position there toward subservience to
the political dictators who ordered his
pet legislation and hear his fuIminations
approvingly. II this exhibition of the
boss idea that the newspapers Of the
State are chatteIs. to be either bought
or booted into subjection, does not pro-
duce revolt the Governors inpeach-
ment Of degeneracy will have at least a
partial verification. dispatch.