The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-11
WILL APOLOGY SUFFICE.


WILL APOLOGY SUFFICE.
The Oegonian in one of its usual able
editorials yesterday devotes its atten.
tion to the Astorian on its comments on
the recent election in Portland. 1t was
in the nature of plea in abatement ac,
eompanied with motion TO squash the
indictment against one of the defendants
H. ". Scott, The Oregonian, for the
first time, states unequiyoealy that Mr.,
Scott is not candidate for the United
States senate. This is the first intima.
tion that the people OF Oregon have had
of his retirement from the political
arena, for there is certain telegram
from Mr.. Scott TO Geo. c. Brownell
wherein the former gentleman expressed
the thought that "the time has now
come" II is self.evident fact that
Mr. Scott retired from the contest in
the senatorial election of 1908, but no
one knew that it was permanent, and for
making such rash break. an apology is
due the honorable gentleman who pre-.
sides over the great Oregon newspaper.
The formation of the Scott Heney
Trust Company referred TO, was inspired
from the facts, that the 0regonian has
lost no opportunity to prejudice the
public mind against Senator John II,
Mitchell for his alleged completely in the
land fraud cases. The Astorian has not
attempted to defend Senator Mitchell.
neither has II prosecuted hi mby pub
fishing only comments from the state
press antagonistic to the senator osten.
sadly for the avowed purpose OF inauen
cling public sentiment, with a noticeable
omission from the press friendly to the
senator. Trial by newspapers Is not
conducive 70 tbe impartial admlnl.tra,
ton of justice TO defendants accused Of
a violation Of the laws Of the land |
ComeHts after the trial are both proper |
and permissible, but no man, be he
either innocent or guilty, should be con.
victed by the press without first having
had fair and impartial trial by jury |
of his peers The Astorian is convinced, /
and so are many OF the people OF Ore /
Roff, that the evident animosity OF the
Oregonian against Senator Mitchell in
fluenced many votes against Mayor viii |
liams.
With reference to the nomination Of /
Mr.. Furnish, it is a well known fact !
that Mr.. Scott was the leader and the !
spokesman of the Multnomah conven-
tion that nominated Mr. Furnish and !
Mr.. Williamson, and that they held the
balance Of power in that convention and !
voted as a unit, leaving all other aspi |
rants in the minority, compelling them
to withdraw from the contest and ac-
quiesee in the unanimous choice of the
convention" dictated by the Multnomah
delegation. No apology is necessary on
this score, for it is part Of the pOlit
ical history Of Oregon, and very large
majority of the republicans believe in
the truth OF the statements Of many Of
the delegates at the convention. True,
the 0regonian supported the republican
candidate-it always does, but with
more ardOr and enthusiasm if it hap.
pens to be one Of its creation. Republi.
cans of Oregon have not forgotten the
antagonism displayed by the Oregonian
TO the late President Mckinley. 1t was
not a personal antagonism, but a polit.
ical one.
The Oregonian is a great paper, equal !
if not superior in editorial ability to
any published in the United States, and
it has a right to criticize men and meas.
ures, but there is a growing sentiment |
among all fair minded men against
trial by newspapers" When this is
indulged in, no matter what the motives
that actuates it, the general public are
certain to form and express an opinion.
with their Ideas, as the Amer.
lean people believe in fair play and in
square dealing and win not tolerate a
policy of running mans character for
political ends. The Astorian has never
on the guilt or innocence of
my of the men implicated in the land
fraud trials, nor published newspaper