The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-29
DEF|ES
MAGAZINE CRITICISM
Declares That if Publishers Go
Too Far, Nobody Will Pay
Any Attention.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2S.-Presdcnt
Taft told the periodical publishers of the
United States tonight that, If they over
loaded their criticisms OF men in admin
istratlve authority with unparllamentary
expressions and intimations as to lack OF
honorable motives, nobody is going te
pay any attention TO them.
Although he made no direct allusion
TO "muck rakiRg," it was plainly evident
at what he was directing his attack.
The president. addressing the Period
ical Publishers Association of America.
as their guest at dinner. did not give
this advice to the editors assembled from
all parts of the nation until he had
prefaced his remarks with good-humored
treatment of his relative position TO the
wIelders Of public opinion.
This is rather formidable gathering
to address, said President Taft after
he had been presented by +, Hopklnson
Smith, postmaster. Gentlemen who
act as fatcs as TO what Is or is not cur
rent literature. would. under any circum-
stances be formidable to address, and
under conditions prevailing in Washing
ton and In legislative halls. II requires
a brave man, standing in my position, 10
face them.
Must Weigh Evidence.
LAS to controversies, let me say that
all neutrality-suspicious. OF fact-must be
weighed broadly to reach an ultimate
conclusion. 1t is the case with every
trust. as much as we condemn them for
their lniqulties. The evidence must be
weighed. 1t does no good TO denounce
a person on the witness stand if he teS-
tiiics against you
You controllers of public opinion. and
controllers of the rulers OF the country.
may hammer a man into indifference as
TO what you say but at that he Will
come nearer TO doing right than If he
tried to fight.
But. seriously speaking. ] would like
to say that when you criticise a poor
devil exercising a difficult responsibility,
first give him the same benefit enjoyed
by every criminal, that OF reasonable
doubt.
Don't use unparliamentary express
Sions II YOU can help IL. for II you do.
and if you overload your criticisms with
SuperlatiVeS and inSinuatlonS as TO his
lack OF honorable motives. In the end
you viii weaken all your criticism, and
nobody is going 10 pay any attention to
you"
I'm respect to this matter Of the post
age it is for judicial investigation, and
conclusion should be reached on a
calm. business basis. | have no doubt
YOU will find in the committees OF con
gress that careful judgment is needed
don't agree with some of the commit
tee who started out by shouting CRATER
and robber'; but nobody should he led
aStray Just because some gentleman s
heat carried him away from the bounds
Of judgment"
Dolliver Is Direct.
Senator Dollver in addressing the
publishers, went directly To the postage
question, and aroused an uproar OF APP
probation when he said;
Il venture TO predict that before the
postage Is raised on the literature which
Is being read by millions OF Americans
there VIII be rather an elaborate exam
ination into the expenses and admins
tration OF postal affairs.
Speaker Cannon. who also spoke. said
the publishers today were getting their
magazines delivered by the government
cheaper than they could be sent in any
other way, and that the publishers were
shrcwd enough business men 10 make use
of any other better and cheaper method
if thcy could find one. He urged them
to cooperate with congress. so far as
1hnN comld. In getLinE legislation.