The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-03-26
BE CAREFUL.

Tile ltElslutuIt mac nave some fca-
son for suggesting that the name of a
, candidate OF any party must be left out
Of the public print, and what Is said Of
him labeled as so mucn per line. and
so ridch free, but II has no right TO
ov,sstep the boundary lines OF demo
cratic doctrine, one OF the tene.s be.
ling sree speech and a free press. Wen
lthe province of a newspaper Is bounded
by legislative direction. there must Of
necessity be extraordinary cause for
such action
Becaues one or a dozen editors and
publishers abuse the rights given them
is no excuse for the lessening OF the
broad and good influence Of honest
and upright men who believe their
newspapers are for the good OF the
whole community and who seek to
keep them to the highest possible
plane
And It was unkind for senator TO
say on the floor OF the senate that
the" newspapers We're often guilty OF
holding up candidates for office and
preventing a poor man srom aspiring
lf the geatlaman referred to SONS
special occasion. or special ewspaper,
it was his right to so state, for II
one or more are guilty of the offense
charged. they are beyond the pale and
should be exposed
There is no excuse for the bald at
tacks being made on the press through.
out the country The modern news
paper is the history for the busy pub
tic and the public has a right to read
all OF what Is transpiring, If that be
legitimate news. Some publishers
purvey the lewd and the criminal rec.
ords to the injury OF themselves and
disgust Of their readers. but the tone
Of the American press is good, taken
az whole. aud the press has been
the greatest champion OF civic reform,
blazing the trail in many Instances
where the publishers were left with
little income on account OF their do.
votion to duty.
The Leader believes that the young
men who now seek to abridge the
rights of the press. were they to be
lNiccessful, would be the first TO cry
out against. We're It IN effect With
the power of the press chained by an
unwise legislative act. the trusts and
the predatory powers would be un.
'lecksd, riding over the people who
are now afraid OF some little local
affair wherein two local citizens al
lowed their personal differences to
thwart their usefulness TO The com
mon veal
There is no question so important
70 the people that it iustlfles curning
the newspapers BE nor deceived in
this. for the circulation throbs will ten
the editorial department when and
how TO change from a bad policy.
The Leader wishes TO Dc fair with
all men, and especially those men who
have been sent here 10 represent the
people OF the state of Oklahoma. And
IL reaches more families each day
than these men can hope TO reach In
any other manner. II Is the pride Of
The Leader that II never misrepre-
sents nor seeks 10 DO injury to a slngl !,
member be that one democrat or a
republican
And the man 81 he win but pause
20 think who viii allow a hobby 10
cause him 70 vote agaist publicity, Is
arming the very powers the democra-
ne party fought 10 n standstnl here in
Oklahoma. and have now under the
irol Of our state.
The election bill has many good
clauses, aud some OF the amendments
We're good. but The effort TO make the
newspaper suhseryient 10 the polltical
aspiraant. and to curb Il that some
aspirant might be able To avoid Inc
aVariciousness of some country week
iy, Is step no one In this legislative
body can afford 10 take.