The Washington herald., 1907-09-20
The Press. a Trust. and the Tariff.

Being itself a victim Of the white paper
trust and In fun sympathy, therefore,
with the American Newspaper Publishers
Association in its grievances. The Wash
ington Herald hastens to congratulate
that organization upon the vigorous
course of action now contemplated and
set under way 10 redress its wrongs.
First Of all. this newspaper bespeaks for
the association an immediate and con-
Justice. Mr.. Attorney General Bonaparte
Is a trust buster OF no small magnitude.
Once convinced of the iniquitOus practices
complained OF, and OF which proof Will be
forthcoming, he will hardly be satisfied
with mere fines. however heavy. but may
be depended upon 20 Try 10 administer
prison penalties as well. That is, If he
can find the way. A believer in drastic
measures. as recent epigrammatIc remarks
of his have made clear. he will Undoubt-
edly seek TO 1T the punishment to the
crime
The high-handed extoruons Of the white
paper trust certainly Will rouse %
highest pitch the fighting spirit Of this
ind0mitable-not 10 say belligerent-Cab-
met officer. and. doing business here on
the scene, this newspaper guarantees 10
fellow-publishers It's hearty and vigilant
cooperation in keeping the subject before
the department while the same is pressed
for action along the aggressive lines
mapped out az Tuesdays meeting in New
York.
The American public. no less than the
American publishers, have something to
gain by this proceeding against the white
paper trust. The pocket OF the press is
touched-serlOusly touched-by the opera
ton of a tariff law that likewise is Op-
pressing people In almost every walk OF
life While seriously deploring the situa-
ton confronting the newspapers Of the
land, all Of them, it is easy to see that
good may come out of it for the public
at large. An object lesson close at home
is the speediest and surest medium 10
cure or correct an existing evil The
press to-day has that object lesson.
A conspiracy in restraint Of trade by
the white paper trust is made possible by
the high-almost prohibitive-duty on
Canadian paper and wood pulp, and ii IS
encouraging 10 see the publishers unite
in demand for the removal Of that duty
Although at this time more aggravated
the situation IS by no means new. Tariff
legislation on this point-no more. how
ever, than on other pOints-has been i'm
peratively needed for years American
UubIishprg have bppu kppnIv aIivn Ia This
need. But the complication of politics has
stood in the way Of concerted action, and
so the newspapers have come to suffer
from their own shortsightedness.
Instead Of a sacred thing. to be ex-
plotted for partisan advantage, the tariff
is found 10 be business proposition-a
cold business proposition, in which poll
tics can honestly have no part. The
American publishers are not just discov-
ering that fact; they have known It all
the time; but, as a body, they are Just
admitting il, and we congratulate them
and the public upon the signal denoue-
ment
The Washington Herald wishes this
righteous movement complete and early
success. It is bound to succeed Such
an all-powerful agency as a united press
cannot fail in any proper undertaking.
The sentiment OF the country will be AL
most solidly behind it. Moreover. il will
give an impetus to tariff reform which
thinking people. especially business men.
assuredly will hail with greatest satisfac-
ton.