New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-12
TRIBUNE MEN LAUDE0
Refusal to Violate a Confidence
Wins More Approval.

NEWSPAPER MEN AND CONFIDENCE
Judge Hand, of the federal court Of
New York, has q white elephant on his
hands and is making frantic efforts to
get rid OF it, Recently the shipping
news reporter Of The New-York Tribune
obtained a piece of news that the courts
thought No one had the right to give him,
and he and the city editor were sum-
moned to tell where they got the news.
With the typical loyalty of news gather
ess, they refused to tell and were held in
contempt Of court, but this didn't get
the desired information from them.
They claimed that the evidence might
incriminate them.
Then President Wilson came to the
rescue and offered them pardons for any
thing they might have done. but, like
"Jones's niggers." they had heads Of
their own and said the President had no
power TO pardon them for offences of
which they had not been convicted.
Judge Hand argued with them that he
had and cited cases in point, but as they
were the Judge and jury in that case
they turned down the Judge and the
President, decided that the latter had no
power OF pardon under the circumstances
and still refused 70 tell where they got
their information. Thereupon the Judge
fined them $500 each. but said they would
have opportunity TO purge themselves of
contempt by answering the questions be
fore another grand jury
The reputation these men have made
is worth much more than $1,000 TO The
Tribune That reporter and city editor
will be able TO gather news from men
who do not wish to be known in connec-
ton with it. No one will fear that he
may be punished through their breach OF
confidence.
The case of these two men is not UNI
usual The average reputable news
paper man. especially IF working for a
reputable newspaper, will take punish
ment himself rather than violate a con-
fidence, and case like this will give the
public so much confidence I'm him that
his value as a news gatherer will be
vastly iucrea sed. - Jacksonville Fla)
Times.
IMMUNITY BATH MAY BECOME A
TERROR.
Tie two employees OF The New-York
Tribune who have been held for contempt
of court because they refused to betray
TO grand jury their sources OF informa-
ton concerning a customs fraud case are
not basing their defence on any claim Of
privileged communication" but rather
on the right of any witness to decline to
incriminate himself The government
holds that an anticipatory pardon from
the President from all consequential liza
bility under the law completely abrogated
that plea, and the court. citing a long
line Of cases, has upheld such eXtraordi-
nary use OF the pardoning power. II the
contention OF the government shall be
upheld In the higher court. the immunity
bath, which heretofore has been consd-
cred a pleasure and a luxury, to be en-
joyed by only a privileged few may be-
come terror II IL Is TO be applied as an
enforced "ducking" for witnesses who
are unwilling TO talk.-Philadelphia Bulle-
tin
PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS OF THE
JOURNALIST.
stances upheld newspaper reporters who
have refused TO divulge sources OF infor-
nation, the full rights OF representatives
Of tho press I'm this direction have never
been definitely decided.
After long years OF waiting for a high
court decision that will establish prece-
dent. II now looks. through the efforts of
Tho New-York Tribune, as though such
a decision is about to be obtained.
Two members OF Tho Tribune stan have
been held In contempt and fined $500 each
for refusing To disclose the sources OF
news published In that paper In reference
to indictments for smuggling.
Tho Tribune has declared that IL will
carry the cases up 10 the SupremeAC ourt
OF the United Sipt".