Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1908-01-01
ATTACK ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

sent 10 OonRr@es a meesARe which an
nounoes n new and dangerous policy ;
aud II IL the duty ~ every publisher.
snd indeed OF every believer In free
speech aud free press TO resent the
proposal conveyed 10 that message
The policy proposed by the president,
sImmered down 60 i's logical conclu
sion, IL to give to the government
power 60 prosecute In the courts any
paper or any individual that Critics.
es the action Of public officials.
The message was called forth rs a
result OF recent criticisms made by n
mum Der of papers as TO the methods
by which the control OF Panama can.
nj zone was secured by the govern.
ment. Certain papers Intimated that
the purchase was not altogether clear
aud above board, and that on the face
Of the transaction IL looked az though
the government had paid forty mil
Hons Of dollars for property that had
coat j. Pierpoint Morgan aud his gym
dIcate only twelve million dollars
Now II 10 q matter OF little oonse-
qenoe whether or not the charges
made by these papers are true THAT
can be- determined by investigation
Ia the ordinary way--but II Ia a mat
ter Of great Importance that every ed.
itor aud every other iBelvldul shall
he free to express his opinion on any
subject connected with public affairs.
What would be the final effect of
President Roosevelt's proposalf 10
would mean that any paper that Of
Tended a public official could be pros
eoted for libel or scandal, and the
whole judicial machinery OF the
government put into operation TO har-
ASS and drive out OF business such an
offender. One or two prosecutions
OF that kind, carried TO n successful
conclusion, would teach the press OF
the country the folly of raising its
voice against any instances of eorrup-
tion. For although thare may he
pretty good evidence OF corruption In
the acts OF public officials u Is usual
ly found extremely difficult TO prove
such instances OF corruption In n
court OF law. Hence instead of the
freedom la which the press OF the
country now holds up 10 view all pub.
Ito acts that even have the least col.
oring OF crookedness In them, then Il
would be comrsiied 90 have n clear
case against any public official before
Ii could denounce such actious--in
other words every public official hav.
ing any suspicion of ulterior motives
attached 10 him would have to be
caught "red handed with the goods"
before public denunciation would be
Tho New York World demands au
Investigation OF the Panama purchase.
Pres. Roosevelt In the message under
consideration declares that no inves-
tigation IL necessary, aud suggests
that papers that propose such pro.
oeodings be- prosecuted for lihelinR
the government. Now. that seems TO
DO an improper attitude to take. An
attack on the Panama purchase 10 an
attack on MIR, Roosevelt's sdministra-
ton, aud instead of attempting 60
squelch Ii ought TO be the first to fav.
or thorough investigation, one that
shall clear the administration of all
suspicion In the matter.
HIT there 10 little wonder The Con-
gress aud the Press OF the country 10.
gard this message as the 'hottest one
yet" for II contains a most dangerous
doctrine, aud a doctrine as has never
heen proposed by any president since
the days OF John Adams. Pres, Ad.
ans proposed law TO Congress.
which Congress passed, making II
crime punishable by tine aud impris-
oument TO speak or publish anything
derogatory of the President or Con
Sress, But that one act killed the
Federalism. party as II ought TO have
done, for II was contrary to every
sentiment Of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Congress will no doubt
investigate the Panama purchase re-
gsrdless ot Pres. Roosevel,s message,
AS bill he's been introduced looking
10 that end,
No doubt through force OF habit
many will be found writing "l90s"