The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-06-19
INVITES INTELLIGENT COMMENT
Slang and vituperation Tends On
ly to Make Courts Careless
TALKS TO PRESS ASSOCIATION

NolOIauO springs, Colo, June 10
mo judge has ever yet maintained
his dignity and never will by bring
ing an editor before the court and
Furnishing him because of anmad-
versions made through the columns of
the newspaper
This statement was made I'm pa
per by Smith Mcpherson. United
states district judge, southern district
OF Iowa. which was read before the
National Press association today.
Judge Mcpherson did not attend the
meetings of the association. In his
paper which was entitled, Liberty
of the Press" he discussed In gen
cral way, the relations that should ex-
list between the courts and newspap-
erH
Intelligent criticism Is invited"
said Judge Mcpherson Slang aud
vituperations are despised by the
Judge. aud as | believe by the intel
ligent of the public. Substantial and
honest and matured criticism is of a
great aid To the courts. as well as
educators of the public. Criticism at
random tends to make a judge care
less. Criticism of newspapers should
bc OF kind. and none other. than
with the Judge Then there should
be no bitterness. but "A useful eX-
change of views. And with such
criticism, progress will be made. be
cause such criticism is within the
! limits OF freedom of the press and
not a mere liceuge for which there is
no remedy. and no resulting good. Let
editors and writer's he gentlcmauly to
ward the judges. And let judges have
a due regard To the freedom of the
press The public will then be the
! boncticiaries."
In tho beginning of his paper. judge
| Mcpherson said ne wished the rela-
tiorghip between the courts and the
press were more fair and sincere than
it is.
| Freedom OF the Press.
The freedom of the press is one Of
the institutions of this country. and
as such will over eYist. and rightly
| So" he continued. And no one be
lieVes I'm this more than do the courts
II was but recently that the courts
richteously. against terrific pressure
prevented the dragging of editors, one
| of them nearly a-thousand miles, to
| make answer TO an alleged libel. one
recital in the declaration of independ
ence against England. was to the eff
feet that Americans were carried be
| vond seas for trial. When a court
I'm WASHINGTON city, backed by strong
pressure and greet power, sought tt
drag new York city and an Indian
apolis editor To- Washington city be
cause of editorials with reference tt
the Panama canal, IT was the courts
that stomped II an outrage. and de-
creed that such oppression could no
exist in free country The litera-
ture found i'm the published reports
of the courts show that the news
papers. their editors and publishers
by the courts This protection will b'
given because IL is just that it shoulC
he so. And the courts should be fairly
considered 10y the press
"ln speaking of the press. have
but little 10 say about the scandal
mongers and the so-called yellow
Journals They are outlaws. and arr
entirely beyond the pale of respect b!
the courts and decent citizens gen
orally We Judges have no remed'
as against them. II is idle to tai
about bringing actions. either civil o
criminal. for libel. because such ac
tions are expensive. and usually ludi
crous II not farcical Most newspap
ers like most men. are sincere as L
their utterances. Their unfair crit
|. icisms come from lack of Information
They are too impatient to strike.
"tn speaking OF the relations tina
, do, or ought ,o exist. between TN
newspapers and the courts, there ar
a number OF fundamental errors
which. like cobwebs, should b
brushed away. one Of these error
, is in the fact that great many q
the Judges seemingly believe that be
cause they wear the robes OF Once
they are and should be beyond crit
icism THAT is fallacy. ! believe a
, much as does anyone I'm maintainin
the dignity Of the courts and that. tn
people should have respect Tor III
courts. But "a Judge must comman
RESPECT In some other way than
, making this argument. lie cann'
, command respect by becoming n re
cluse. nor by wearing a silk nat or
, morning frock coat or a white tie, c
by speaking i'm gutteral tones of voice
! Judge Mcpherson then gave IN de