The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-05-21
"NUZZLING" THE
NEWSP APERS
Vic Lovejoy, Of Jefferson Bee, Says
All Newspapers Are "MuzzIed"
and Every Editor Knows It.
"uP AGAINST 1T At ALL TIMES"
Newspaper Man Constantly Between
Upper and Neither Milestone and
Becomes ArtfuI Ood9er. ..

The Bee receives northern Iowa
exchange which has for its motto
prominently displayed under the head
ing-"A Newspaper Without A
Muzzle." A mighty good catchline
that, and the editor, doubtless, sue
ceeding in getting by with it with
a good many people. But
We do not believe there is a news
paper in Iowa, nor in the United
States that is not in some way "muz,
zled." We do not believe there is a
man, woman nor child in America
who is not, to some degree, more or
less, wearing "muzzle." There are
many makes of muzzles.
Our northern Iowa newspaper
friend doubtless means one brand OF
muzzles, to the effect that no one has
any political strings tied to him. He
NAV mean that he publishes the
news" all the time. He may mean
that he "hews to the line let the chips
fall where they may as the Nevada
Representative says-but he does not
neither does any other newspaper
man. 1t is simply one of those "cold
bluffs" that newspaper men are ad
dicted to, and the strange thing is
they are able, in many cases, to blum
it through and make some people be
lieve that things are what they
SEEM"
When We note the claim of news
paper that the sheet is not "muzzled'
we are led to believe that any and al
kinds of news" is published, no mat
ter what nor whom it hurts. This is
a sad mistake. No newspaper pub
fishes all the happenings OF it's neigh
borhood. If it did, the building where
it was published would have to be
equipped with cast iron windows, the
doors would have to be of sheet stee
and time lock, and the entire struc
ture of asbestos. And every news
paper man, who is not fool, knows
it.
Politically all papers are 'muzzled'
to a more or less degree. No news
paper tells ALL the truth about candi
dates running for Office. If the editor
did he would have to construct g
modern fort around his office, mount
the walls with 16 inch guns anC
employ regiment of soldiers tt
defend him.
No newspaper "hews to the line, lei
the chips fall where they may" what
ever that means. 1t is subject to var
ious interpretations, of course, but we
have found all papers, claiming such
a motto, to be very choice of language
very salvy in what they say, very
careful not to generally offend. Any
paper which would carry out the mot
to, in every sense of the term, would
be chucked in the sewer with tongs
It would be too rotten to burn. Its
editor would be able to preserve his
breath only by wearing coat OF mai
so thick that a mauser bullet would
splash off of it like a drop Of rain
from ducks back.
Some folks are silly enough to think
that a newspaper man should publish
all the local scandal, regardless OF
whom it hit. We will wager that the
parties willing that paper should DC
that would be among the first to fall
under the shafts of editorial criticism
What good would be conserved by
airing all the nasty and Objectionable
things which take place among the
body polite? Suppose young man
and young woman should be walking
together after dark, with perfect right
and perfectly good intent. Suppose
the editor, knowing as he does tina,
there is room for criticism in many
such cases, should turn loose the edi
torial vial of wrath upon every young
couple, regardless of whom or which:
He would ruin the reputation of many
a pure girl. and wreck the life OF
many a good young man.
You may say, "Well, let the editor
use proper judgment, and write up
only the cases where he is we'll salts