The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-18
The Position of the Press.

The so-called muck-rakers have re.
ceived much unofficial announcement
IN their campaign against graft, but it
remained for a Philadelphia Judge to
give them sanction from the bench for
their activities. Judge Sulsberger Of
that city, in refusing a grand jury per-
mission to file a presentment against
contractor, declared that it was not
the function Of the grand jury to criti-
cize merely administrative matters,
That duty belonged to the newspapers.
It is absurd to say,' he remarked,
that twenty-four men meeting
couple of hours day for a week are
competent to criticize successfully evils
IN administration. Furthermore he
added, cit is not their province. What
do we have newspapers fors Why are
they granted liberties under the con-
stitutions It Is because they are need
ed as a part Of the government. They
are a part of the government, unre-
strained, but valuable and useful for
that very reason"
The judge went on to say that it
sometimes made him impatient with
newspapers that they did not realize
their function as. a part Of the gov
eminent, their function of finding out
what is reprehensible in. administration
and bringing 1t to the attention Of the
authorities. = -
1t might be q matter of inquiry
where the judge has been living that
he has noted a lack. Of activity on the
part of the newspapers as the criti-
Ching branch Of the government. and
he might reply that he had been living
in Philadelphia. It would be COM
plete answer, for it is a fact that the
most discouraging part of the Phila-
delphia situation up to year ago was
that the newspapers of that city had
practically abandoned their position as
censors Of public conduct The most
encouraging note Of the new movement
in that city. was that the newspapers
stepped to the front and began drilling
with the reform party.
Judge Sulsberger did not attack the
grand jury system. On the contrary, he
upheld it vigorously, but contended
that there were some things which the
newspapers could do so much better
than the grand jury that they should
be left to the free press, and the grand
jury should accept the results of news
paper Investigations where they had a
value instead Of attempting to- insti-
tute independent Investigations Of it's
own. - 748' =
The remarks of this judge are quite
complimentary to the American press,
but at the same time they must have
solemniing effect upon the men who
are responsible for printed utterances.
If the newspaper is an unofficial and
unrestrained portion of the government,
it must accept the responsibility which
goes with power, not merely the respon-
sibility for ibelous statements; this
already is the law. But moral respon-
sibility, for its attitude toward public
matters and public men. The function
Of the press is one Of investigation,
not of denunciation nor of judgment.
Denunciation belongs to the grand Jury
when it returns an Indictment. Judg-
ment belongs to the petit jury when It
returns. a verdict. Some portions Of
the press attempt to exercise all three
Of these functions at once. But it is
evident from Judge Sulsberger's an
alysis that two Of them do not belong
to the press, but to other branches of
the government.