Arizona republican., 1905-11-24
PHOENIX, ARIZONA. NOV. 24, 1905.
The Abuse of the Associated Press

At the close of a meeting at Tucson last Monday night. in which a half dozen lawyers participated, a telegram was sent to President Roosevelt for the purpose of deceiving him as to the sentiment of Tucson and vicinity on the subject of joint statehood. The Republican has already alluded to this dispatch as we'll as to one sent the next day by Mayor Manning, contra dieting the gross misstatements of the former.
 The attempt to fool the president was bad enough but it was not nearly so bad as an offense committed on Tuesday in the sending out of the fol- lowing Associated Press dispatch:
 Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 21.-The joint statehood mass meeting was held last night. at which 32O persons joined the Joint Statehood association. A dis patch was sent to President Roosevelt asking him to favor joint statehood signed by Chas. H. Schumacher, chair man."
 As a matter of fact there were only sixty-three persons present at that meeting and less than half of that number took any part whatsoever in the meeting. The others had been drawn thither by curiosity. The Republican was informed yesterday by telephone from Tucson that the greatest number of signers then claimed by the joint statehood advocates was 146 and that the greater part of these were Mexi- cans and others who would sign any document which might be presented to them. It is not even certain that there were 146 names for the joint statehood advocates refused to exhibit the list The joint statists at the time of the sending of the telephone mes sage were industriously hustling for more names. If there were yesterday afternoon only 146 names what had become of the balance of the 320 on Monday night described in the Asso- 32ciated Press report? There is some thing to be said here on ethics.
 One may lie on his own account, either by word of mouth, by letter or by telegraph. He is in any case only a common liar. But one who employs the Associated Press for the dissemi- nation of lies is more than a private liar and becomes deserving of public attention. Former Governor Hughes, the proprietor and editor of the Star, controls all matter sent from Tucson through the Associated Press. He is placed in that position because the management of that great news gath ering service believes him to be a truthful man as it believes all it's agents to be truthful men. In sending out or authorizing to be sent out that report of that Tucson meeting, Gov ernor Hughes knew it to be false; he knew that 320 persons did not join the association that night; that fifth of that number did not join it. Gov ernor Hughes was guilty of abusing a privilege which is put into the hands of honest men to use properly
 The Arizona Star is not noted for its strict accuracy of statement. It keeps, when it is it's interest to do SO, as far out from the lee shore of truth as it can sail with safety; that is, it endeavors to keep within the bounds of credulity. Accordingly, in its re- port on Tuesday morning of the Mon- day night meeting it did not state that any definite number of persons had joined the association. It stated that 146 persons had been reported by the committees, that 325 were ex- pected to join soon and that within the next ten days the list was ex- pected to be increased to 800. Yet, the night before there had been writ ten in the Star office for consump- tion abroad the foregoing Associated Press dispatch.
 The Associated Press does not per- init its service to be employed for po- litical or personal purposes. Here though such employment mas been gross and fragrant. There was nev- CT so great intensity on the part of the people of this territory in any po- litical situation as there is in the pres ent statehood situation. Ninety-nine per cent of the people are on one side and one per cent, possibly, on the other The outcome of the struggle will de- pend in part upon public opinion out side the territory and fair public opin- ion outside the territory will be based in a great degree upon the preponder- ance of public sentiment within the territory. It is therefore important tc the people of Arizona that they be not misrepresented. That is precisely what has been done and the Associated