The Detroit times., 1909-01-25
Should a Faithful
Nightwatch Be Fired
For his One Mistake?
Not the New York World, But All
Of a. Free Press Is Sued by the
Governnne nt--Libeled or
" 1uncoed?

again halfcoced only oense charged against Inc
World understand it.
president straning the point evidenced by the tact
necessary law nearly one hunoreo
years old by this law somewhat strained IN
itself and that passed in 1895 that
been invoked
The outcome determine whether free is
to be limited usefulness the public has
destroyed whether is be continued in the liberties that
of honest government and the
protection of the peoples rights
government without newspapers and newspapers
government Thomas Jefferson said ne would choose the
latter.
Thomas Jefferson supposed know a thing
The suit against The decide whether have
a government without newspapers.
1t will be recalled The World which inspired
the presidents that the Panama canal
ery acquired by syndicate of Americans for the
selling the the United States for tar above that
for which purchased
The Worlds article charged that the sale OF the
requirement and sale of this this country hodup
Among Americans c. P. Taft haf-broher
of the and Douglass President
broher-in-aw
question but that the editor of The World was ap
precaive story which required nvs
CATION before being printed.
happened that the very whom the story
only who could supply the proofs
investigate however The World
which, The Times contends justified the printing of the
article
company which the purchased the canal
property sprung existence most suddenly and
o suddenly gone out of business
World found that the purchase of the property had
investigation time and that this investigation was
of Morgan who pushing
Enough had developed that investigation however to war
arriving conclusion that the publication OF
the facts its hands warranted
None did they call forth
the the complainant in the
present until after election.
The challenged willing then stand by the
printed investigation by
WHICH SUGGESTION CONGRESS- representative of the
GOVERNMENT THE COMPLAINANT IN THIS CASE HAS
AS YET FAILED TO ACT UPON.
who got the money!" the government
satisfy of that fact it would before proceed
ing against newspaper that seeks do the good turn
If the government can crnaly beled and the
crimnay beed why this investigation
and the charge there against The Word
IT. say for instance Times print story
city officials had pohted by from
officials and had gobbd piece of property for the
purpose of selling the city for hodup price, has The Times
crnay Ibeled the of Detroit whether the facts were true
not?
Or the allegations prove bd any other than
though THEY officers of that city?
There may be way bring charge that reflection has
been Detroit these ocers but IN case
they guilty charged reflects the Detroit the
guilty officials paper seeking call the attention of the public
charges brought which
would city of Detroit much did it refuse
go such a investigation?
There may technical ofense somewhere, but fail to see
where the and the suppoon here cited at
variance
Would the public have its press sunaber and permit to
be robbed would public which itself prefers ube have
wrong hundred for the Of having
the nail hit the head the other oe times?
The American press is the nghtwatch apateic, drowsy
sleeping people has for years left guard.
Has this peoples nghtvatch been faithful?
Has it been found asleep?
Has the fact that this people has nghwatch rights
against respasse and against those would
plumber?
this nghtatch be discharged stripped
of authority the weapon with which
hands, because reported burglars time of burglars
when it only boys the window with a tck-tack?
F, President Roosevelt has made mistakes
might be far of the in this connection
that perhaps government lbeled The World
the first the greater offender
The has been consderate President Rooeve
case, however
Where he has bee nwrong cnaably regarded
sought and overlooked the method.
President Roosevelt with better would might
extended the consideration The World though its allie