Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-10
The RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS.

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Journalism used to be noble pro-
fession, but with the advent Of una
scrupulous editors who enter the busi-
ness for graft or to satiate their de-
sire for odious notoriety through per-
sonal attacks on citizens and corpora
tons, much Of the honor of being an
editor is dissipated. The Herald does
not believe in personalities. The news
paper has no mere right to criticize
right and left and attack the honor
Of men than an individual has to
stop another ON the street and shoot
him down. Personal journalism is a
towards weapon. A citizen is unjust
ly attacked. He calls on the editor
for an explanation or redress. He is
answered.: "Well. what are you going
to do about it?" 1t is an open defy,
declaration that the abuse is going
to continue just because the editor
knows the party in question has no
redress unless it is to take hickory
club and give the editor a beating or
end the trouble for all time by the use
of a gun. Very few like to do this.
They do not want the blood of man OIL
their hands and rather than have it
they simply ignore the cowardly at
tacks and suffer in silence. Men who
are in public life are subject to criti-
cism and their wrong doings made
public, but their personal characters
should not be touched, neither should
criticism partake Of spite work. Where
officials are honest and follow the law
they should not be buffeted around
because they refuse to enter combines
and graft for the sake Of a news
paper. We have known many cases
where officials have been attacked by
newspapers for the reason they were
not favored at the expense Of tax
payers. The Herald never asked an
official 10 go against the law. w
have always said all things being
equal it is the right of the official to
favor his party paper, but when it
comes to the law newspapers are
no more in line of protection than any
one else. There should be no ia
yoritism and when there is it should
be exposed. Newspapers are expected
to publish the news and expose all
kinds of corruption but they have no
right to become prosecuting attorney,
Judge and jury. Especially is this
the case when men have been ar
rested and held for trial. Until the
courts have shown favoritism and re-
fused to deal with such matters the
newspapers should refrain from try
ing the case more than to call at
tention to the charges. Durango has
witnessed men in all walks of life at
tackled unjustly ridiculed without
cause and many have been tried con-
vincted and sentenced in advance Of
court trials by certain newspapers.
Only few short years ago three or
four Durangoites were accused Of be-
ing thieves every day and demanding
they be sent to the penitentiary while
they were in the custody of the court.
Here is where the court should have
jurisdiction and cut out such attacks.
As before stated the only redress
many respectable citizens have is to
dirty their hands in fist fight or
make use of gun.
This being a fearless newspaper"
is high sounding but nine times out
Of ten such pretensions have graft
and corruption back of them. Have
you ever noticed papers of such char
acter attacking men who favor them
with patronage against the law. Not
on your life. Personal journalism and
uncalled for attacks on reputable citi-
zens and the interests Of Denver and
the state brought about the organi-
zation of the Denver Protective league
which now has membership Of over
800 strong men. Already beneficial
effects have been noticed. Denver
papers are getting back to sane jour-
nalism and when they overstep the
bounds they are called down by the
organization. Durango should have u
similar organization, one that would
have the nerve to insist on decent
journalism or refuse patronage.