Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-06
'SE|Tz ANSWERS
|. PRESS ATTACK
. BY LAF0LLETTE.
Publisher Charges Senator's
Attack on Newspapers at
Banquet Was Wicked and
Untruthful.

did not break up until an early hour
this morning and its cl ose was marked
by a tart denunciation Of Senator La
Toilette by Don c. seitz, of the Amer
lean Newspaper Publishers associa'
ton, who acted as POSTMASTER.
Senator La Toilette began his speech
near midnight. and spoke for nearly
two hours. The more than 600 diners
were yisibly wearied by the long
drawn-out remarks of the Wisconsin
senator and toward the close fire.
quently interrupted him. Much OF his
speech was devoted to the money pow.
er and an attack on the sincerity OF
the newspaper press Of the country.
When he had finished Toastmaster
Seitz said: '.. f.. .-.-. -
II shall not, attempt nor have I the
time to come to the defense of the
newspapers of the couptry which have
just been foolishly, wickedly and un'
truthfully assailed.'
Senator La Toilette made no sign OF
hearing the caustic remarks, which
was uttered in half-angry tone.
Malicious Attack Says seitz.
Today in an interview Mr. Seitz
said:
"As the banquet was given by the
magazine publishers, and as I was a
guest Of Cyrus II. X. Curtis, president
of the association, had to be cautious
in myfremarks on Senator La Toilette.
l don't recall exactly what ] said when
the senator had finished. but I do re-
member declaring that the senator
had made an unkind, unjust and will
fully malicious attack on the news
papers of the nation, and If | had had
more time l would have said some
thing stronger on the subject
Last night dinner, during which
we thought We would josh the states
man, ended in a calamity. 1t was a
tragedy for Senator La Follette's
hopes He has simply wiped himself
off the map.
"Undoubtly he came to Philadelphia
to make the address of his life and
when it developed into an infamous
SANDER OF the newspapers and q wal
lowing, sycophantic praise OF the
magazines, realized that the man had
OVoTSleppeu HIS lAs1th. ~--..J .-' w. ID. III
previous to that time the senator
had talked for more than two hours
and when he concluded I certainly re-
buked him. In my mind. the senator,
not knowing the relationship between
the magazines and the newspapers.
came to the dinner to attack the lat
ter and to curry favor with the, maya
zine publishers.
The portion of Senator LaFollette's
ton was as follows:
81 have sketched the growth and
power of.the great interests that today
control our property and our govern
ment | have shown how subtle and
elusive, yet relentless they are. Rising
up against them is the confused voice
of the people. Their heart is true but
their eyes do not vet see all the In.
tricate sources of power. Who shall
show them? There are only two agen-
cies that in any way can reach the
whole people. These are the press and
the platform. But the platform in no
way compares with the press in its
power Of continuous repeated instruc-
ton. .-..
zone would think that in a democ-
racy like ours. seeking for i9struc-
lions, able to read and understand, the
press would be their eager and willing
instructor-such was the press of Hor-
ace Greeley, Henry Raymond, Chas. A.
Dana, Joseph Medill and Horace Ru-
bles. .-s.
But what do we find has occurred
in the last few years; the money
power has gained control of our in
dustries and government. 1t controls
the newspaper press. The people know
this Their confidence is weakened and
destroyed. No longer are the editorial
columns of newspapers potent force
in educating public opinion. The news
papers, of course, are still patronized
for news But even as to news, the
public is fast coming to understand
that wherever news items bear in any
way on the control of the government
by business, the news is colored: so
confidence in the newspaper is being
undermined.
Cultured and able men are still IS
be found on the editorial stats of all
great dailies, but the public under
stands them - be hired men who no
longer express honest judgments and
sincere convictions, who write what
hey are told to write, and whose judg-
ments are salaried.
ITO the subserviency of the press
to special interests in no small de-
gree, is due the power and influence
and prosperity Of the weekly and
monthly magazines. A decade ago,
young men trained in journalism came
to see this control of the newspapers
of the country. They saw this unoc-
cupied field. And they went out and
built up great periodicals and maya
zines. They we're free"
Golfers Wife is III. -