The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-27
STILL AT IT.

Pennsylvania, in addition to her various other claims to lasting fame, must hereafter be looked on as the one State that persistently attempts to muzzle the press. The efforts of Pennypacker while he was Governor to prevent the newspapers from criti- cisins him are still fresh in the memo ry, as we'll as is the failure of the repressive laws he caused to be enact ed. But that failure has not discour- aged those of his stripe who appreciate the fact that free press in Pennsyl- vania is the greatest bar against graf ters. There is now before the House bill of which we have heretofore made mention. but we think the essential parts of the bill are worth reproduc- ton in full. They read:
 The defendant in any suit for assault and battery shall be acquitted if he prove that the person or persons upon whom the assault was committed wrote or published. within one year previous to the assault, any false or defamatory matter concerning the defendant or any parent. child, sister, wife or fiancee
 Similar acquittaI shall be the result if the assaulter prove that the person assaulted was the proprietor, owner, publisher, manager or editor Of any newspaper in which such article aP- poared.
 This expresses the desire of those who know that rascality will be found out and exposed, and that, however, dark and devious may be the opera tions of those who have made the name of Pennsylvania almost @ byword and a reproach in the minds of honest peo- pie everywhere the newspapers will find q way to let the light of public opinion and condemnation fall on their ways. Commenting on this proposed legislation The Philadelphia Record says that neither Draco nor Lycurgus ''euld oxermatch the drafter of this epoch-making measure for severity; 1t reeks with the judgment of Daniel, the wisdom of Solon and the comprehen- The words which Dante inscribed over the mouth of Hell: Leave hope be- hind. all ye who enter hereI' will have to be painted over the door of every editorial room. See how every way or escape Is to be closed to those who, in the opinion of offended statesman, de- serve a horsewhipping: The offender may be assaulted with impunity if his publication have been, not false and" defamatory, but false 'or'' deramatory. The publication may be true, but 1T the person offended deem himself de- e fha publishers head or the ass-knuckled fist on his eye. The greater the truth the greater the libel And thls bull dozing bill is no respecter of persons, so they be connected with a newspaper publication The autocrat of the sane tum may have his eyes blacked for the sins of the youngest and rawest wleld- CT of a blue pencil, and vice versa: the entire force is responsible for all members, and each of them is punish able by assault and battery for the acts of very other. The plea 1t was the cat" will not be accepted in re- buttaI. The press will be subjected entirely and abjectly to the 'unwrit- ten law"
 The Record argues that the press might protest against the enactment ot such legislation, but "it apparently gives it up in disgust. It calls to mind previous efforts along the same line ot press-muzzling, and thinks if this bill fails to become law or to be enforced others of like nature are pretty sure to follow. That may be true. and doubtless Is. for the ganS that has been footing the State so long will not suffer themselves pTied loose from their Dlunder as long as they see