Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-12-24
Freedom o. The Press."
Richmond News Leader,

o0usm ~ inc Press."
Richmond News Leader.
Freedom of the press is not involved
IN the question between the New York
World and Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr.. Josenb
Pulitzer, the owner of the World can.
not hide himself behind that honorable
and much abused principle from the con-
sequences of his own teachings and
methods as practiced by his own news
papers.
MIR. Pulitzer has done more to de-
oauch, disgrace and degrade the news
paper business and the men engaged in
1t than any man who ever lived-more
even, than Hearst, for Hearst is hut
Puhtzer's follower and enyious emnla-
tor. Years ago the world was RE-
spectacle, clean and able democratic
newspaper. Mr.. Pulitzer secured pos
session of it and made it a bowling.
screeching, tawdry drab. Under his
direction nothing was too filthy for the
World to scream aloud, nothing was too
sacred or too serious FOR it to besmirch.
SOIL ana vulgarize. 1t catered to the
most prurient prying, to the most fetid
and foulest appetite for sensation. Moth
ing was too low or too dangerous To
public welfare or decency for him to re-
quire bis reporters, both men and wo-
men, to do. So he has acquired a vast
fortune. We think a fortune won bv
operating gambling house or trading
In girls on the whole would be rather
more reputable and desirable than M
Pulitzer's fortune.
Two months ago, near the close of
the presidential campaign, the World
printed sensational and much disnlavad
articles regarding the Panama canal
purchase. These articles were intended
TO convey and did convey to the public
mind the idea that an enormous steal or
swindle had been part of the settlement
Tor the canal. They undertook To i'm
phcate in this steal, or swindle. the
presidents brother-in-law and Mr.
Taft's brother. The plain implication
and lnsinuation was that Mr.. Roosevelt
the president, and Mr.. Taft, the repub-
hcan nominee for president, were in
VOWED and engaged and got parts of the
prohts of a conspiracy to rob and cheat
and to plumber the public.
If the World had been believed. Mr.
Tart would have been defeated. There
is every reason to suspect that the
world intended by its publications to
cause Mr.. Taft,s defeat by a Islander
and without just cause to present him
before the American people as little
better than a thief.
Now it is proved that the World had
not the faintest foundation of truth for
Its publication and accusation. II sIap-
dered innocent men with intent to ininre
them before the public and to defeat
one OF them for the highest Office on
earth. 1t attempted in cold blood an
assassination of character. The World
IN the face of repeated challenges has
tailed to bring forward one line or word
OF support for its accusations or to
show that it had any reason to believe
them to be true. In all the history os
newspapers there never has been a more
Migrant, malicious or deliberate false
nood' nor one printed with palmer in
tent to do injury to the person accused
and to the government.
freedom of the press does not involve
freedom to Islander and malien and m
inJure innocent people by deliberately
circulating falsehoods against them.
The ethics of decent journalism and the
Instincts of decent manhood, regardless
OF parties and politics, condemn meth
obs so grossly and murderously unfair.
The laws forbid them and declare them
to be crimes. Therefore, the reputable
newspapers of the country will not be
misled by the whines of Mr.. Pulitzer
and his World about the freedom of the
press. They will unite in the earnest
wish that methods can be found bv
which this crime committed by the
World shall be punished and those ca
pable of similar crime be deferred.