The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-24
BRYA AN WRITES
And Thanks The State For Fight
Against Misrepresentation.
WANTS A FREE PRESS

But Thinks the Will of the Peo.
pie in Every State Should Have
Voice, Not the Wishes of Few
Rule or Ruin Newspapers. Shows
Up the New York. World and Its
Editorials.
Lincoln, Neb., March 19, 1908.
Mr.. VIM. E. Gonzales, Columbia, S. c.
My Dear Mr.. Gonzales. Il appre-
ciate the fight which you are making
against the Misrepresentation in
dulged in by the New York World
and those who echo lneir editorials.
it is not for me to discuss the ques-
ton of availability of candidates.
have never stated that I was the
most available candidate or that
could poll the most votes. That is
not question upon which my judge
ment ought to be ventured or ac-
cepted. I have simply stated that it
is a question for the voters of the
party to determine.
AS a Democrat have resented the
claim that a few editors should de-
eide this question for the people.
am a believer in free press and
recognize the right Of any editor
whether his circulation be large or
small, to state his opinion and his
reason for it, but those who read his
opinion have right to give it such
weight as they think it deserves.
have insisted that the readers ought
to know what pecuniary interest the
editor has in the questions under
discussion.
For instance, l asked The World
to state editorially what financial In
terests it's owner, Mr.. Pulitzer has
in the stocks or bonds Of railroads
and in the stocks and bonds of cor
porations commonly known as trusts
The World has not seen mt to an
swer the question. He is reputed tc
he interested in a number OF cor
porations which are affected by leg
islation, and his readers are entitled
to know what his interests are. II
he has interests adverse to the in
terest Of the public, he is not dis
interested Judge as to candidates OF
platform.
If he has interests that would be
iniuriously affected by Legislation
needed by the people, then his opin
ions are worth no more than the opin
ons of Mr.. Hartman or Mr.. Rocke
feller. l do not deny the right o.
Hartman, or Morgan, or Rocketel
ler, of Pulitzer, to own paper ane
nresent their views to the public, bu
I do contend mat in the interest o.
honesty and fair dealing, the owner
of the paper should be known ant
the interest Of the owner in the ques
tions frankly stated.
The Worlds unfairness is evidenc
ed in every editorial. In the hrs
place it ignores entirely the election
of 1894, when the Democratic part,
was overwhelmingly defeated. This
election occurred before | had an!
Influence in national politics. 1t oc
Cured when the party was being con
ducted along the lines laid down b.
The World. 1t is deliberately unfai
in ignoring this election and charg
ing the defeats Of 1896 and 1900 t
me inst as it is unfair in ignoring
the still worse defeat of 1904, whe1
it was again the party's adviser.
II is simply prophesying when
saws that | can not carry any States
that lost before, and that some
other Democrat can. How does
know? What gift Of phophecy La
if? It thought in 1904 that judge
Parker would prove popular candl
date. 1t demanded his nomination
and it advised him each day as tt
what he should say and do. W ma
evidence can it furnish that it ma
more intelligence today than it hat
then. or that its prophecies rest OF
a tirmer foundation!
There are several papers in you
State which we're against me in 1888
and have been against me ever since
7 do not know whether it is bccau5
of difference OF opinion as TO Wh2
ought to be done, or whether The
are connected with interests that ar