Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1905-03-17
ENN0NS COUNTY RECORD.
BY D. r. STREETER.
LiufOn. NORTH jLvL'Otn !.
PIONEER PAPER OF THE COUNTY.

LimfOn. NORTH JInE'0tn.
PIONEER PAPER OF THE COUNTY
Office as second-cl1ss matter.
SOME of the brethren OF the state
press--notabIy lie Of the Necle Chlo-
no,ype-do not take kindly 10 the new
libel law. the bill for which was in
troduced In the house "f representa-
tivrs by the member from Emm"ns
county. 1t appears, however, that
the chief opposition comes from those
who have been IL the habit of using
iibelOuS language week after week
making the mt'ht serious charges con-
cerning any onc who may differ from
them, entirely regardless OF the truth
or falsity Of such charges. There has
been--and will be-large latitude in
criticising public men and their rela-
tions to public measures. But, here
after, thuse editors who maliciously
and falsely accuse: their enemies Of all
sorts Of private misLeeds-lying scan-
dalOusly whenever it suits their pur-
pose will continue their metl,"ds
only with the possibilitXof the peni-
Tertiary before them. There was III,
desire On the part Of the senators and
representatives to muzzIe the press
The governor, when lie signed the
act, had NO wish 10 s,ifl. egi,imate
criticism Uf anybody by tile news.
papers. The editor Of the Record.
who introduced the bill, has published
newspaper In Emtnols county
twenty-une years. lie. has always re-
ferred to a spade as such; but lie has
never made an attack on any one un
l 'ss lie llas had ample documentary oI
other proof to justify such attack l,e
fore the bar Of public opinion or the
bar Of the courts. Aud lie doesn't
expect to be at once transformed into
an angel because of the new law. H.
will cuntinue to criLicise whenever
he believes criticism necessary. But
in the future, as in the past, he will
take mighty good care that lie knows
what he is writing about; and that lie
has proof at hand. when lle indulgeS
In such criticism.
The Streeter libel law will work nj,
hardship to fair. minded, honorabl.
newspaper men-t tIl,se always prt.
pared M back adverse criticism will
proof. But 1t will make hard sled.
ding for the financially irresp",sibl.
vampires and blacknailers who have
been in tue habit Of printing Tile VII
est Uf assaults upDn private character
entirely regardless of the truth o.
their cruel charges Such carrion Il:
these would serve society to muc'
better purpose were they making
binding-Lwine for the state, ipsLea,
Ut running yellow newspapers tia;
are stencil in the nUslrils Of I'll.
communities IN which they circulate.
The new law says plainly that
publication, to be libeluus, must ~
malicious. and that it must b. willtuiX
published. Like tile old statute, i
allows the truth Of an alleged liDelou
publication To be proved as evidenc
for tile accused. IL IS like any "tlie
law for the prntecliuI If s.'ciety:
Is entirely harmless except IT, Lllus
who maliciOusly aud wilifuliy vi"lat
its provisions. II dues not, il,,wevel
allow libelous attack to be ulade /
editorial double.leaded long prime
and u statutory retraction printed i
solid llonpareil In the middle of
column OF, an advertising page. d,
der its provisions it will be we'll for
publishers foresight in tile mai ter Il
| y libelOus publication 10 be at le;s
equal to his hindsight. IL will ais
make the circulalOrs If cainpaig
liand-bills more careful as To tile truLl
Uf their Screeds.
/ The fact is evident tn every news
paper man who has attended legis
lative session in any ca pacity that tn
acts OF a few cowardly libelers anon
the newspaper men Of tll.: stale nav
made ma,,y of Those Who po 10 til
legislature suspicious OF, II not p',si
$itiyely unfriendly 10. all measures III
| tr,duced IN Lie interest OF the new.