The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-04-05
"GETTING AT" THE NEWSPAPER

We have referred heretofore to the itching
anxiety Of number Of smallbore legislators to get
at censorship regulation" Of the newspapers,
independent of those who the papers
duct them The Arkansas legislature was especial
ly active in this regard, and went to the
length Of proposing to put the newspapers of that
State under the regulation Of matchmaking utili-
ties commission, which could Of course absolute.
ly suppress any newspaper, at least temporarily
until its right to free utterance under the constiu.
ton of the United States INDICATED. It
a proposed censorship which could easily have
been made as odious as that OF Russia.
The Indiana legislature has passed what Il
described as "a press muzzling law" As origin
ally drawn, the bill made 1t a crime to print any
thing in a newspaper tnat might expose man
ridicule contempt in political campaign, in
der to influence anyone to vote against him 70
gain support for opposing candidate to pass
or defeat any measure at a primary, an election, or
a convention, or in the legislature. The propo
sition was 80 rank, however, that even the friends
of 1t weakened and inserted the word falsely
providing that must not falsely" hold up leg
isator candidate for Office to ridcule
tempt, and on. But explained in the IndiH
apolis News, the effect Of the measure will in
evitaby be to expose every newspaper in the state
to. the wrath of crooks with grievance against
it." And that paper further explains that las
many prosecuting attorneys creatures of poll
tical rings it will not be difficult for vengefu poll
ticians to find agents to proceed against that por-
ton of the press which has incurred their wrath"
The absolute needlessness of passing any
status as this Is shown from the fact that the libel
laws of Indiana are already strict as anyone has
proposed to make them, against newspapers and the
penalties both civil and criminal, laid down in
those laws would appear to be ample for al l.a
poses. But under the libel laws the would
have to be fought out its merits Under this
new law the newspapers can be afflicted beiol1
they have an opportunity to get in their defense.
AS explained by the Indianapolis News, had the
law been in existence recently 1t would have
been crime to call public attention to the actv-
tiles of certain groups Of lobbyists who
tive before the legislature. And 1t says that lex
cept for that publicity which 1t has now sought n
destroy, the sleek gentlemen who fill the Indian
apos hotels, while the legislature Is in session
would run away with the State House."
1t is fairly stated that legislation OF this krH
is not progressive, but reactionary, "and it ought
to with the general contempt and prompt re-
peal which marked the course of Governor Penny
packers muzzling bill in Pennsylvania" The truth
10 that nobody fears an Independent outspoken
press, except the crooks and who dread
posture of their msdeeds; and when vulnerable
scamps get into legislative positions their first
thought is to SO fix legislation against the news
papers as to render the exposure Of their rascal
tiles too costly to be undertaken. But fortunately,
stitution Is broad. 30 absolute, and unassail
weight, and If not repealed rightly relegated to
Tribune.
y -