The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-02-04


Harrisburg Patriot Qnd. Dem.) J
The SUI against the New York
World for libel in publication regard
ing the purchase of the Panama canal
was not, as some persons might be led
to suppose, instituted under the direc-
ton of Samuel w. Pennypacker, a
consistent and avowed enemy of a free
press, but of Theodore Roosevelt.
New Orleans States (Dem.):
Every citizen, be he president or hod-
carrier. has the right to protect his
good name by SUI is for libel against
the authors of calumnious publica-
tons, but no authority in our laws
can be found for the attempt to con-
strue a criticism Of the president and
his friends into an assault upon the
government and criminal libel against
the country. This attempt to create a
new CT me by judicial construction
will be watched with interest by low
ers of justice all over the country. Il
Harpers Weekly Ond.):
The people are not worried over the
nal resting place the millions that were
wheedled out of congress. In point of
fact, they would like to know a good
deal more about it that has yet come
to light and are quite willing that the
World or anybody else shall dig to the
bottom. They have not been slandered
and do not feel that they have been
Ne Their has tine government Congress,
which voted the money, manifests NO
excitement. Why should the president?
New York Journal of Commerce:
Nobody can pretend that harm has
come to the government from the
statements which are made the sub
iect of these proceedings, and any at
tempt to punish their utterance will
have the appearance of intimidating
the press and will enable the alleged
offenders to pose as the special cham
pions of it's freedom, which they are
eagerly doing.
Evening Wisconsin (Rep.):
1t is hoped the story that President
Roosevelt will be forced to give up his
African hunting expedition in order to
carry on the 1 bel suit which has been
instituted against the publisher of the
New York World is merely an inven-
ton of sensational journalism.
Norfolk (Va,) Landmark Und. Dem.):
That Panama libel suit of the presi-
dents is blow at the freedom of the
press but wild one. 1t is utterly
wrong. and foolish. 1t was natural,
though, to expect an attempt to es-
tablish censorship at home after get
ting one fastened on the Philippines.
Omaha World Herald (Dem):
What newspaper, if this rule is to
hold, will dare criticise otherwise than
tamely and alphabetically the federal
government at Washington? How
many newspapers have such resources,
such recklessnesls of consequence, that
they will dare ARA gn against them
selves the might of the government di-
rected by the flaming anger of the
king? How shall "the press the peo-
pies rights maintain" if it is to be
awed by the influence of the sovereign
into either lickspittle commendat on
or silence on pain of Imprisonment?
Salt Lake Herald Dem-):
The issue will be welcomed by the
newspapers of the nation. It has long
been supposed that this was a country
of free speech and free press; that the
president was subject to the same laws
as other people. AS to the pros
ecution of the New York World for
libel or leze majesty, it is doubtful Il
twelve men in the whole country could
be found who would bring in a verdict
of guilty.
Lowell (Mass.) Courier Citizen (Rep):
After mature reflection it seems to
US that the dangers of making tie
press Of the country liable to govern
mental pursuit because of it's CIR til
cisms-even the violent and unwar-
ranted ones-are so great as to make
any such proceeding appallingly dang
erous and that it would, on the whole,
be better to leave such matters to tie
private individuals wronged. The lib
erty of the press is often shamefully
abused. of course, and degenerates into
license to wreck regulations rega- d.
less of reasonable truth; but, on the
whole. this IS rather rare, and the
proper liberty of the press is too i'm
portant to be imperiled.
New York Mail (Rep):
Some assertion of <~oxvo,u~-o-xo,