The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1912-12-28
An Attempt to Throttle Press
The People Ohio The Victims Of DabOea Pic, 10 Muue the Press
Through the Initiative and Referendum


ing twenty-five cents per running
inch for an additional space - oocu-
pied. provided that such additional
space at said rate shall not exceed
twice the amount of space occupied
BY said false statement or allegation.
Sec. G. Every statement or article
which Newspaper companies are
herein required 70 publish. shall be
sworn 20 By the person Offering the
sane Tor publication. but the ccrtih-
cate OF the notary or other onicial
showing that the statement was 30
made under oath. shall not be pub
lishod Any person Who wilfuily
Ewoars 10 any such statement or ar
tlele falsely. shall be guilty OF pors
jury. and shall be punished BY hno
not exceeding ave hundred dollars or
imprisonment not exceeding one year
or both IN the discretion OF the court
No newspaper company shall be held
liable In any civil or criminal pro-
ceedings for anything In any such
statement OF, article.
Sec. 7. Any newspaper company
refusing or falling 10 print publish
and circulate any statement or article
as required by the provisions OF this
act, shall be guilty OF a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction thereof shall DO
nned not exceeding ave thousand
dollars nor less than one thousand
dollars: and the person responsible
for such refusal shall be fined not ox.
ceeding one thousand dollars or inn
prisonmcnt not exceeding one year
or both. In tho discretion OF the
court. II shall be the duty OF the at.
torney general or OF the prosecuting
attorney OF any county TO whom com.
plaint Is made IN writing OF the re.
fusal or failure OF any newspaper
company or persons 20 comply with
all the provisions OF this act relative
10 the publication OF such statements
or articles, 10 forthwith begin pro.
codings against such newspaper COM
pany or person and to prosecute the
same.
Sec. s. Any person or persons.
trade. labor. business. social, eco
monte or religious organization. hrm,
corporation. public official or candi.
date for public ONCE. damaged In
property. person or reputation by the
violation OF any OF the provisions OF
this act. by any newspaper company,
shall be entitled 10 recover treble
damages In any court OF competent
jurisdiction. and conviction under
Section OF this act. shall be held
prima facle evidence that such dam.
age has been INFLICTED.
Sec. q whoever furnishes or con.
tributes any statement. allegation or
news item 10 n newspaper company.
unless he knows such statement, al
legation or news item 10 be true. shall
be guilty OF a misdemcanor and upon
complaint OF such newspaper COM
pany or OF any person or persons In
iured in property. person or rcputa-
ton by the publication OF such state
ment. allegation or news item, and
upon conviction thereof. shall be flned
not exceeding FIVE hundred dollars or
imprisoned IN the county Jail or work
house not exceeding six months, or
both in the discretion OF the court
Sec. 10. Every newspaper COM
pany printing or publishing news or
items relating TO crime or trials OF
criminal cases. divorces and trials OF
divorce cases. breach of promise
cases involving seduction. alienation
OF affection cases involving adultery
or seduction. and any other civil case
involving gross immortality shall Sc
gregate such news or items TO one or
more consecutive columns OF pages I'm
tho least conspicuous portion OF its
newspaper. The heading OF each item
printed in such columns or pages
shall occupy not TO exceed four lines
and shall be printed from type not
more than twice the size Of the type
ordinarily used for general reading
matter in such newspaper.
Sec. IL. Any newspaper company.
or owner. officer. editor. writer or
representative thereof. who verbally
or secretly attempts or does coerce,
lntimidate. bribe or influence any
public Official for or against any pub
lie measure or Official action by
threats OF publication of articles de-
rogatory OF such public Official. or by
promises of newspaper support and
commendation OF such public Official:
or who Hobbies on the floor or in the
cloak or committee rooms OF any gen.
eral assembly or other legislative
body TO which he has access because
OF his connection With the newspaper.
for or against any proposed law, ordi-
nance or other legislative act, shall
be guilty OF a felony, and upon con-
vietion thereof shall be fined not ex-
ceeding fve thousand dollars or i'm
prisoned not exceeding ave years. or
both In the discretion OF the court
Sec u. The invalidation Of any
section or part OF section Of this act
shall not afiect the validity OF any
portion OF the act not specifically in
validated.
With his children refusing to obey