Fitzgerald enterprise., 1906-12-18
The Great In
huence of Pub
lie Opinion
By WILLIAM TRAVERs JEROME District Attorney
of New York County

HERE are men, guided by agh duty who will do
and continue do their duty they it regardless Oh
the majority opinion which call public opinion But
~ WITH EFFORT AND DEPRESSION The man who
declares that Indifferent public opinion if he be not
fanatic something Of fool and knavea knave to lie
and fool to think believe him. To public officer tile discharge
of duty with the face Of public opinion like the difference
the running engine with oiled sanded bearings
potent public opinion is everywhere evident to the lawyer
What of its will people make then to
declare in its constitution that thing SHALL MOI
BE DONE the legislative body shall enact suitable laws to
prevent doing prohibited c9 And has Maine for ex
ample been able enforce pcbve aw3 Do not its sworn Off
everywhere fail fulfill their oahs Of Office Like officers
fail in their duties where crimes SUCH AS LARCENY are
concerned. All fxs,
ft'ft,i
my the constitution prohibits gambling and enons
the legislature laws The legislature however, has
dared law which, while form aimed prevent gambling on
designed protect and this possible
only because public opinion permitted There large group of laws
notably concerning the social evil restriction the sale OF
liquor Sunday observance which well illustrate the and the
evils public opinion but whatever its and whatever its
history public opinion stands today THE MOST MPORIANI
SINGLE INFLUENCE in the life Of the nation.
To say that the rule of public opinion has incidental evils i after
ALL only to say like all institutions My reading and
observation and experience make believe that the people
consciously unjust ungenerou Indeed they forgive
public everything but pcunay dishonesty and often
overlook transactions point difficult to
distinguish from the latter.
many parts the country and especially great cities
mans ability command hearing must largely depend upon the
newspapers and by them that the greatest justice AND SOME
TIMES THE GREATEST INJUSTICE Is DONE If public
opinion greatest single force in public life surely the
paper ncomparaby the greatest factor its formation and spread
English writer and friendly criticism Of nsti
ons has spoken of the newspaper dchargng three
narrator" 'adyocate" and weather yane."
narrator that has, believe its greatest influence BY
its reporting factsand frequently fconsof all facts public
private furnishes THE MATERIAL for the formation of
public opinion and gives that publicity without which government by
public opinion could safely The newspaper seeks should
SEEK discharge its functions advocate THROUGH It's EDl
TORIAL COLUMNS but it that there its influence
though still great has diminished 1t would the
growth the has had something do with tho loss of n
the editorial page Being less ephemera and partisan in char
acer articles the have been judicial i'll
and their greater length has given opportunities denied the editorial
with the result their influence public opinion has been
STEADILY INCREASING and far has been benehcent
When the newspaper frankly advocate it does its
editorial page public opinion helped harmed the advo
Gated good bad and accepted rejected BUT PUBLIC
OPINION IS NOT DECEIVED.
WHEN, REPORTING FACTS, IT WILL
MIssTATEs DOES SERIOUS AND TO IN
pIvIDUALs OFTEN IRREPARARLE INJURY.