Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-18
BRYAN ANSWERS
THE PRESIDENT
CALLS MESSAGE ON PANAMA CANAL
CASE A NEW AND DANGER
GUS DOCTRINE.
SEES BLOCK FREE SPEECH.
Investigation Is Best Way to Bear Out
Facts and Learn Whether or Not
Charges Are False.
HITS AT FEDERAL PROSECUTION

LINCOLN, Neb., Dec. 17.-WilIiam J.
Bryan takes radical issues with Presi-
dent Roosevelt in the latter's declaration
that it is the duty of the government
to prosecute an individual or newspaper
which attacks the government or govern
ment officials. In an editorial which will
moner, Mr.. Bryan attacks the Presi-
dents message and comes to the rescue
OF the press. He says:
President Roosevelt has sent to Congress
a message which announces a new and dan
gerous doctrine. 1t is the duty of every
publisher and every believer in free speech
and press to resent the Presidents attempt
to use the government to terrorize those
who would criticise the action of public of
fcialS. Nc official can claim exemption
from criticism merely because he is an of
hc1al, and no act OF the government is so
sacred that the humblest citizen may not
express an adverse opinion upon 1t.
II is matter Of little consequence wheth>
er the charges made by the World are true
or false-that can be determined by suit at
Law in the ordinary way-but it is matter
Of great Importance that every editor and
every other individual shall be free to ex-
press his opinion on any subject connected
investigation of the Panama purchase, and
it is for Congress to determine whether the
investigation shall be made. The fact that
the President thinks no investigation is
necessary is immaterial
Bryan Scores President.
An investigation is the best method of
bringing out the facts, and if there has
been misrepresentation the President ought
to urge investigation rather than to oppose
it.
But this proposition that the government
can institute libel proceedings against an
Individual or Il paper for criticism of the
governments action is not only a new doc
trine, but an extremely Objectionable one
If any individual has been libCled he has
his action at law. If the individual con,
cerned does not see fit to prosecute his
remedy the government cannot become his
champion.
The President says that the execution OF
the purchase act was in the hands of AttOr-
ney General Knox and that he the Presl-
dent, approved of everything that Mr..
Knox did. If either the President or MI
Knox is charged with improper conduct
dent cannot use the attorney general to
punish those who criticiSe him. Senator
Knox, or any other official Whatever of
tense the World has cOmmitted-if it has
committed offense--is not against the
government but against individuals who
are accused of bringing improper influence
to bear upon officials.
Pulitzer on Solid Ground.
Mr. Pulitzer is on solid ground when he
resists the. Presidents attempt to convert
newspaper criticism Of officials into Il criti-
cism against the government itself. The
Presidents message is indefenSible in so far
as it asserts the right of the government to
prosecute the World or Mr.. Pulitzer, and
he will find that he has Overstepped the
the attorney generals Office in the way
that he has proposed. The President is
not the government; a criticism of him Is
not a criticism of the government.