New-York tribune., 1907-01-18
sFvATE AND CORRESPONDENTS

4 mighty bother is being raised over the
new. so-caed gag rule Of the Senate by some
of the Albany correspondents. But that is their
business. It makes the state capital vastly dl-
verting We must nave wars and rumors of
wars dark plots. tremendous villains, heroes of
the gallery gods high standard, mischief and
mystery and If we occasionally get a glimpse
of the dauntess bravery OF the correspondents
themselves. vouchsafed with the obvious re
luctance Of modesty. the annals OF legislation
are presented in the best penny dreadful style
This incident offered Il great opportunity 10
the correspondents TO struggle with their mod
esty We almost see behind the charmed veil
of anonymity of the press. We see what de-
voted lives these brave young men live, the
thousand dark perils which encompass the
knights of publicity, the derring-do over which
they modestly keep the veil drawn. 1t is part
of the self-denal Of the profession that it is
never at what Hezlitt calls 1.-The circumference
of appearances" delightful spot where every
body likes to be. In this annual defiance OF
the correspondents" they approach very near
TO that enjoyable periphery. Some legislators
get up and say they don't care a-snap Of their
fingers what the press says. The correspond
ents retort, You don't dare do a thing TO us!'
Then there is an exchange somewhat after
this fashion prince OF freebooters." Lying
hounds" "Blackhorse cavalry Libellous
whelps :" and then when the whole state is
thrilled to the marrow they all settle down
Rmcably to the making and chronicling of leg
islation- good. bad and Indifferent.
We suppose there are some legislators in Al
bany who find the freedom of the press a per-
sonaI inconvenience. They do not Ike to be
kept at ''the circumference Of appearances"
They would wish to bulldoZe correspondents If
they knew how. and the passing of gag rules
is their best effort, but the press has never
seriously suffered at their hands and il really
has them to thank for posing for fill length
portraits Of the dark side of public life. If
such public characters could frighten the cor
respondents into saying nothing about their
activities they would do so, but they lack the
courage. This timorousness Is exhibited in the
new rule of the Senate-if any of its support
ers intended it as gag and threat-for II
would hardly frighten the greenest reporter
These bold. bad men Of the Senate were un-
equal to proposing in their own name the with
drawal from any correspondent of his floor
privileges. They preferred a little anonymity
OF their own about such action. and so left
the withdrawal In the hands Of the clerk. One
Of the Senators said that this use Of the clerk
to hide behind "cowardy" and II GER
tatnly does not look brave enough to frtghten
any one. OF course. If the clerk should exclude
Q correspondent II would be instantly known
at whose demand the clerk had acted so the
anonymity would be futile. Moreover, If the
correspondent should be a person of character
he would have difficulty in getting a reso-
lut1on before the Senate restoring him to his
privileges, so the whole question would have
to be considered by the body. AS a threat and
q gag tho rule is pretty feeble.
Tha0e - anothar phase Of the question The