Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-11-12
The Great In
fllence of Pub
lie Opinion
BY WILLIAM TRAVERs JEROME. District Attorney
Of New York County

HERE men, guided by high of duty, who will do
and continue do their duty they regardless Of
the majority opinion which call public opinion, But
~ WITH EFFORT AND DEPRESSION. The who
declares that he is indifferent public opinion, if he be
fanatic too often something of fool and knavea knave to lie
and fool to think believe him. To public officer the discharge
of his d with the face of public opinion like the difference
in the running of engine with oiled sanded bearings.
How public opinion everywhere evident the lawyer
What solemn declaration of its will people make than
declare in its constitution of that thing SHALL NOT
BE DONE and that the legislative body shall suitable laws
doing of the prohibited act And Mane
ample be able enforce its probive laws? DO Off
almost everywhere fail fulfill their oah of oe Like officers
do fail in their duties where crimes SUCH AS LARCENY
concerned.
In the constitution prohibits gambling and enjoins
the legislature pass prevent The legislature however, has
dared law which, while in form aimed prevent gambling
rcetrack VIGOROUSLY designed protect it, and this possible
only because public opinion permitted There large of laws
notably those concerning the social evil restriction the sale of
liquor and Sunday observance which we'll illustrate the power and the
evils Of public opnon but whatever its and whatever its
history, public opinion stands today TIE MOST IMPORTANT
SINGLE INFLUENCE in the life of the nation.
To that the rule of public opinion has incidental evils after
ALL only that like all human institutions My reading and
observation and experience make believe that the people
consciously unjust Indeed they forgive
their public everything but pecunav dishonesty and often
distinguish from the latter
In of the and especially great cities
mans abb y command hearing largely depend upon tic
newspaper and by them that the greatest justice AND SOME
TIMES TIE GREATEST INJUSTICE is DONE. If public
opinion tie single force public @ surely the
paper comparab the factor in its formation and spread
wise English writer in and friendly criticism of ntu
tons Las spoken of the newspaper dischagng three fnonsv
'narrator.' "advocae' and weather vane"
1t is narrator that it has believe its greatest influence BY
its reporting Of facsand frequently ctoof all facts public
and private, furnishes TIE MATERIAL for the formation
public opinion and gives that publicity without which government M
public opinion could safely exist The newspaper seeks should
SEEK discharge its functions advocate THROUGH ITS Ed
TORIAL COLUMNS, but that there its influence.
though still great has diminished would moreover the
growth of the magazine has had something GO with the loss of nu
of the editorial page. Being less epeme and partisan in cher
articles in the have been judicial in
and their greater length has given opportunities denied the editorial
writer with the result that their influence public opinion been
STEADILY INCREASING end SO far has bccn beneeccn
When the newspaper frankly alvocac does in it
editorial page public opinion helped harmed the sdv
Gated good bad and accepted rejected BUT PUBLIC
OPINION is NOT DECEIVED.
WHEN, REPORTING
FULLY MosTATGS AND "FAKES' IT ICES SERIOUS AND
DVOUALs, OFTEN lRRE2ARACLE i:tL.'o~