Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-24
WISE JUDGE THIS
Some Sensible Observations on Treat
Ment Of the Press.


No judge has eevr yet maintained
his dignity and never will by bringing
an editor before the court and pun
ishing him because of animadversions
made through the columns Of the
newspaper.
1T would he helpful to the courts
If editors of learning and character
would in a dignified and intelligent
manner discuss the rulings of the
court. whether by commendation or by
,, advance criticisms"
These statements were made In a
paper by Smith Mcpherson, United
States district judge, southern district
Judge, southern district of Iowa. which
was read before the National Press
association, at Colorado Springs, Col
orado, last Thursday. Judge McPher-
son did not attend the meetings Of the
association. In his paper. which was
entitled Liberty of the Press" he dis
cussed in a general way, the relations
that should exist between the courts
and newspapers.
Intelligent criticism Is invited"
said Judge Mcpherson. Slang and vi
tuperatiOn are despised by the judge.
and, as believe. by the intelligent of
the public Substantial and honest and
matured criticism is of great aid to
the courts, as well as educators. of the
public. Criticism at random tends to
make n judge careless. Criticism Of
newspapers should be of kind, and
none other, than the editor would use
in conversation with the judge. Then
there would be no bitterness, but n
useful exchange of views. And with
such criticism, progress will be made,
because such criticism Is within the
limits of freedom Of the press" and
not a mere license for which there Is
no remedy, and no resulting good. Let
editors and writer's be gentemanly to-
wards the Judge. And let judges have
a due regard to the freedom of the
press. The public will then be the
beneficiaries."
Wants Fairer Relationship.
In the beginning Of his paper, Judge
Mcpherson said he wished the rela-
tionship between the courts and the
press were more fair and sincere than
it Is.
THE freedom of the press Is one Of
the institutions of this country. and as
such will ever exist and rightly So" he
continued And no one believes In
this more than do the courts. 1t was
but recently that the courts righteous
ly, against terrific pressure, prevented
the dragging of editors. one of them
nearly 1000 miles, to make answer to
an alleged libel One recital in the
declaration Of independence against
England, was to the effect that Amer
leans were carried beyond seas for
trial. When a court in Washington
city, backed by strong pressure and
great power sought to drag New
York city and an indianapolis editor
to Washington city, because of edito-
rails with reference to the Panama ca
nal, it was the courts that stamped 1t
as an outrage and decreed that such
oppression could not exist in n free
country. The literature found in the
published reports of the courts show
that the newspapers their editors and
publishers, will not plead in vain for
protection by the courts. This pro-
lection will be given because 1t is just
that it should be so. And the courts
should he fairly considered by the
press.
Are Outlaws.
in speaking of the press, l have but
little to say about the scandalmOngers
and the so-called yellow journal
They are outlaws and are entirely be-
yond the pale of respect by the courts
and decent citizens generally. We
Judges have no remedy against them
1t Is idle to talk about bringing ac-
tions. either civil or criminal, for libel,
because such actions are expensive,
and usually ludicrous If not farcical
Most newspapers, like most men, are