The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1913-01-23
Criticism of Official Actions
Address by Chas. j. LiSle of the Recorder to the East
Idaho Press CLUB, at Boise, January I8, Main
tanning the Right of Free Speech.

we are tOlu-and the authority Tor
the statement may even now be in the
room that we have liberty, but not
license, or even leave. to criticise; that
not even the truth, but the motive
back of its telling, is the standard by
which statements shall be judged; that
statutes are poor rule to set up as a
guide, since they are not to be obeyed
or regarded; that the court practice as
set forth in the state constitution and
the statutes is doubtful remedy for
over-statement in criticism -and out of
this we are to find way to harmonic
our old theories and beliefs that the
press, that the voice of the American
people when raised in criticism, is free;
and to face the DEGREES that may vary
with the winds as to what may be said
of public acts on the part of those we
elect to serve us.
The dissatisfied man is the best
friend of the human race. From the
SNUG, satisfied, Pharisaic man comes
never a helpful suggestion, never a
great invention, never scientific revo-
luton. Galileo. who publicly recanted
his belief that the earth revolves
around the sun, still said In his heart,
''The earth DOES move" and on his
once prosecuted theory has been built
most Of the science of today DR..
Jenner, who first discovered vaccina-
ton as preventative for small pox,
said that it was crime for medical
science to live on in the stupidity in
which he found it. Harvey, who dis
covered the intricacies of the circula-
ton of the blood, criticised and con-
demned the doctors of his day, for their
ignorance and consequent malpractice.
These are but random illustrations of
how criticism and dissatisfaction spur
the human race onward. Every inven-
ton is a revolt against the dull com
monplace of the past; every new pro-
cess is short cut toward the ultimate
goal of absolute efficiency. In art, in
science, in government, this is equally
true
Take up governmental affairs more
specifically, as within the intent of the
subject, there is no one now engaged
in newspaper work who has not seen
one or many bitter fight for the
supremacy of some great principle or
principles. There was a time, in the
history of some of the Western states,
when every county could-and most of
them did-issue bonds to help build a
railroad, that would serve the country
and help development. There is hardly
of public expenditure-th thanks to the
violent criticism that came from care
less bonding. Yet the proposition to
nationalize the railroads, to build ma
tional highways, an infinitely better
and more rational way of securing |
and development, has
grown out of the old plan and its
heated discussions. 1t would be inter-
,sting to follow the myriad of court de-
,isions growing out of those old cases,
md see wherein the laws, the motives,
he practices of the times have changed
Within the week, we have read of
he conviction of a judge of the United
states commerce court, for malfeasance
n office. The federal judge who not
ng ago resigned under fire, presuma-
ly to save himself the odium of prose
ution, is still in the minds of all. The
nfinitely long procession of men who
ave resigned from various offices,
Ugh or low, and the longer procession
Tho have been thrown out of Office for .
heir misdeeds. needs no argument to
ell the rational man that there is some
orce other than their own individual
at work to purge the public
srvice. We read sometimes pretty
tile tales about how some one con-
'ibutes to the conscience fund, by :.
ending anonymously the price of
amp or railroad ride or some other
tile item that was stolen years before.
ut the one thing that purfies public
fe is criticism; that is what makes
lie long trains of designations and re-
rements, and the progress under the !
wv administrations that at least start
the straight and narrow path
And it need not always be criticism X
ong lines that can be proved. The h
,neral course of action, the tendency n
any line of thought or deed, the mo- n
We that actuates, all these ought to be D
st subjects for criticism. No one can t
iticse with honeyed words. The = I
ief who has just stolen lady's purse ;s
ould not come back to apologize and 2
form if the man who secs him should C
gin to praise his charming eyes, his - y
inty manicured hands, his silken gar
ants, his graceful walk Mott is