Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-24
@CARPING CRITICISM"

r HE OREGONIAN and The Capital
Journal are widely divergent on
many things, and Of course, when
discussing editorial matters in which
their views are Numerically opposite,
one of them is necessarily wrong and
naturally from the Journals point Of
view, It Is the Oregonian that Is in
error, but on this point the big con-
temporary would hardly agree with
the smaller brother However this
usual difference of opinion, makes it
the more pleasant when the Journal
can pat i.s big brother on the back
and endorse his ideas and acts
In It's Sunday issue under the head
line, How to Reform the legislature
the Oregonlan discusses the matter
calmly, dispassonately and intelligent
ly and puts its finger on the sore
spot that causes most of the trouble
1t places much Of the blame, for un-
satisfactory legislation on "carpng
newspaper criticism Of the law-maklng
body" and the unreasonable and un-
reasoning prejudice created against it
thereby. Added to this is the failure
to give credit to the Legislature or
legislators for the good work they
really do. Thus far the Oregonlan is
absolutely correct, or at least The
Journal so thinks, but it only covers
half the ground. Every word the Ore
gonian has said about the "Carping
newspaper criticism of legislators
applies with equal force to carping
newspaper criticism of the governor
and o'her state officers. The present
situation under the state house dome,
is not primarily the fault Of either the
legislators or the governor, but Is the
legitimate result of carplng criticism
of the governor by certain big news
papers Of the metropolis, that first
stirred up the trouble between che
governor and the legislature and has
since added fuel to the flames, on all
occasions. Far-drawn inferences that
the governor intended to do this; in
situations that ho would do that;
open assertions as facts Of things hav-
ing no other foundation than the opin-
ion Of a young and over-ardent cub
reporter anxious to get scoop, and
a sensational story; suggestions of
dirty politics and underhanded deal
ings on tho part Of both legislature
and governor, all Of which were made
from whole cloth All these things ex.
plotted day after day regardless of
truth or decency have embIttered the
governor against the legislature the
legislature against the governor and
set 'hem 10 working at cross purposes.
The present legislature Is composed
of an intelligent, honest and capable
lot Of men--men who came 10 Salem
with no other object than the good Of
the whole state-aud their record for
industry and attention TO business
will compare fayorably with that Of
any preceding legislature. II was UNI
fortunate that such % mass Of foolish
bills should have been introduced, hut
the individuals, or some Of them, not
the legislature are to blame for this
and tho speedy manner In which they
were sent 10 the waste basket when
once the legislature got o chance al
them, shows the business ncumcn OF
the body. Much Of the "carpIng criti
Cism" Of the legislature is made b,
the newspapers, and II is cooked on
their roastcrs and held up to the pub.
lie for condemnation for what is d
necessary condition, not fault
II is In the same general way the
governor is treated by these same
newspapers, Keen reporters are se
looted 10 interview him High hrowcd
young Journalists, with psychological
tendencies are placed In touch will