The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-27


lhose whom have mentioned do no.
belong In the City OF New York. They
came from elsewhere The Press here
is generally moderate in tone. think
oown In your country they have To
De moderate In tone also. At all events
they have to refrain from lying AMI
scandal!zing, or they might have to
answer for 1t on the street corner. II
may be that that will have to come
to pass here in the North before We
get rid of some of the ruilians who
nave come into the press here. hate
to use tho word In connection with
anybody on the press here. because
the tone OF so many of our New York
papers is so excellent and the MANAGE
ment of them is so discreet :.
Here owing TO a few exceptions. the
press has been dragged down to the
lowest depths ever known on this con-
ttnent: but we shall be able to out
live 1t. And strange to say. the chief
est of those who have scandalized or
dragged ii down think that they are
fit to hold any Office in this country
from the highest down"
In Virginia there have also been
many charges that the press is cor
rupt: that 1t Is bought with price;
that it is not dependable because 1T is
purchasablo. The same charges have
been made at times In all the States.
and tho press Itself has helped along
the campaign that has been organized
against it by giving circulation to all
the lies that have been spoken to its
discredt. One newspaper probably
TWO or three. has acknowledged that
an ethical point of view; but the whola
body of the press has been included
in the general denunciation. We d.
not think this Is fair. We do rot
think Mayor Gaynor was fair in his
denunciation of the New York papers.
The press of New York is corrupt:
the press of New York is not corrupt.
The Press of New York has been
dragged down TO the lowest depths
ever known on this continent" I'VE
have very respectable press here In
the City of New York" THE press
here Din New York; is generally mod
crate in tone; but it may be neces-
sary TO shoot some editors in New
York for "a few exceptions" which
few exceptions the public, reading
Mayor Gaynor's speech without much
care. would regard as the rule and not
the exceptions
The point we would make is that
IN denouncins the newspapers they
should not be denounced a a body or
class, but as individuals. Mayor Cay
nor should have singled out the few
exceptions" should have explained
how generally honest and respect
able press could not be described as
corrupt because there are a few black
sheep in the flock. should ha - named
names and recited offences and given
the reasons why the scabs should be
driven out OF a noble calling We do
not think that the press is altogether
without blame, that It's criticisms of
public men and measures are lnvari-
ably We'll considered and Intelligent.
but. in the main and as a class. news
paper editors and publishers have
either with the Law or the Gospel.
either with the Law or theGospel
Before determining the question os
to the freedom of the press In Mexico,
II would be we'll for the authorities
down there to make a careful study
of the conditions in the United States.
where journalistic liberty has not in
frequently been degraded into jour
nalistic license. 1t may be said at a
venture that the press in this country
Is largely responsible for the esti-
mate placed upon 1t by both crooks
and reformers; that is to say. IL it
thought more of Itself 1t would be
thought more of by the higher critics
on the outside and BY the general pub
lie as Well
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