The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-16
PROTECTS THE CRIMINALS.

Every newspaper in the state should
join in the exposition of that char
latan bill introduced by Senator Graves
making it unlawful to publish reports
of criminal cases, court proceedings,
Or any actions in which public or prl-
vate morals are concerned. 1t is the
freakish product of demagogue, the
Outpouring of a diseased mind, or,
worse. the cunning scheme of dishon-
esty to screen from public gaze and
comment the crooked dOings OF crook
ed officials No other Interpretation
may be given it.
In an able editorial anent the bill
the Spokesman-Review for long sup
porter of Senator Graves, has this to
say. truthfully, of the legislative abOr-
ton:
"A fitting title for Senator Graves
bill to curtail the freedom of the press
would be "A Bill to Shield Official,
Corporation and Other Crimes in the
State of Washington"
If that bill had been a law the news
papers of this state could not have
to congress on the Brownsville case.
as the message went into the fullest
details of that crime.
The press of this state could not
have Informed the public about the
atrocious assassination of Ex-Governor
Stuenenberg of Idaho
The newspapers could not print &C
counts of the burning of negroes at
the stake and the people Of this state
would have remained in ignorance of
The press could not even print the de-
bates in congress on that subject.
Under the Graves bill if the COVER
nor of Washington or any other Off
cial should h# put on trial for an Of
fetal offense or any other crime the
state press could not print that import
ant news.
If a mob lynched an innocent citizen
the press could not report that news;
if the sheriff or other peace officer
encouraged the crime of the mob the
press could not expose their conduct
Under the Graves bill the press of
this state could not have printed news
of the trial of Senator Mitchell Of
Oregon, of Burton of Kansas of the
approaching trial of Oregon congress
men or the trials of the land thieves.
Under that bill the press oft his
state could not print the news about
the trials of high officials of insurance
| companies. railroad companies or pack
| ing house concerns
Under that bill the press of this
have printed the news about the az
rest and trial of Mayor Schmitz of
San Francisco.
! Examples of this character could be
multiplied indefinitely. but these are
sufficient to demonstrate the danger
Gus nature of Senator Graves bill.
measure which would foster and con-
ceal official crimes of all character.
! The Graves bill is probably uncon-
stitutional, but if it should become a
law and its constitutionality be up
held the newspapers of this state
would only have to respect that law to
make it in the eyes of the public the
most odious ever written upon the
| statute books of this state So inStru-
mental would it be in shielding crime
and covering up official crookedness
that the people would become furious
at it's results. The right of free press
was not easily won. 1t was bought
with bloodshed and suffering. 1t does
not exist for the benefit of a few men
who publish newspapers, but for the
protection Of the people. 1t is one Of
the foundations of human liberty. The
press is not without its mistakes and
foibles Like all other human agen-
cies it has it's failings. Yet it remains
a great searchlight which the people
will not permit to be eXtinguished.
The bill can only be supported by
men who have no conception of the
fundamental principles of government
and only the shallowest knowledge of
human history 1t would not be toll
Grated in Russia. 1t would not be con-
sidered for an instant in England,
France of Germany.