The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-05-25

"A CLANCY comes furNnrd with Re
a vigorous defense of tho exist
iur libel law of New MeNioo. MI
Clpncys io,ial disposition is we'll
known % his subtle humor az times
ls o|x,rucintur nut D.. should not
make us laugh ON Monday morning
MONDAY ls not % good time to appeal
10 thc editorial sense Of humur
The attorney general complacently
assures us tina We not only should
not condemn the existing statutory
outrage known a. the New Mexico
libel law. but that We should fail
down on our knees m thanksgiving
for its presence on the statute books
because it tands as "a bulwark be-
tween the newspapers and the opera
ton OF the common law of libel
which if Infinitely more severe. With
hts admirable regard for the truth.
the attorney general BE- correct Tn
der tho common law OF libel the pun
or burning at ths stake. while under
existing law u is only possible TO pun
ish telling OF the truth about a pub
dc ofncial by financially wrccking a
newspaper and placing the editor or
owner thereof in Jail FOR q more or
less limited period.
The attorney general ~ correct
again when he 8ssumes that If the
u...a a.. NIL Iukp 70
peaied they can accomplish their OBJ
iect. ! nave no doubt" They certain
D. can accomplish their object, and
they certainly win do 30. or be fur
nishcd with some very much more
convincing reasons than the attorney
general has thus ntr put forward. MT.
Clancy says ne has no personal IN
tercst In the matter and We are left
Of the existing law because Of his
wcll-known interest In right n
Justice Mr.. Clancy's conspicuous
reputation for fairness VIII not be
enhanced by his defense OF h libel
law. into which We are constrained
Co believe hc rushed without that
careful consideration which he IL ac-
customed 20 give 90 public questions.
W. are even tempted 60 believe that
the attorney general has "butted in
without stopping To think at all. II
S. very difficult for us "a hclieN- that
Mr.. clancy has watched the operation
of the present libel law In New Mex
leo; the indictments 81 editors and
newspaper owncrs in distant countless
or that he has considered, even, the
which easily ma bee read
ana have boon read into the vcrs
paragraph Of the law which h'
quotes la its defense.
Also we find il difficult 70 believe
that the attorney generals Opinion
of the Intelligence of the newspaper
owners ~ Sew Mexico IL SO low that
Dc expects them 90 bring about a re-
penl ~ tho existing law without Other
provision. 80 that the common Las
will become operative.
The newspapers Of New Mexico
want a stringent law Tor the punish
ment Of libel and for the printing %
untruth with malicious intent. Tn.
enactment of such a Law viii have IN
suIport Of the entire press Of an
state. They object 90 aud viii de
mand a., repeal of the present las
or those SECTIONS OF u which maxi
Telling of the truth about a dishones
public official Impossible without IN
RISK of Indictment, In a distant Q
uu|frIcudiy community. financial Tui
and imprisonment for attempting
carry out the functions Of n news
paper This libel law was passed. {
revived. for the purpose Of oheckin
the telling Of truth about public oI
ucialB In this state, and about who'
there was imperative demand for ti
truth. II the attorney general II Ne
Mexico does not know this. u is b.
cause. in his we'll known absorptie
in his official duties. he was not looi
inR when ID happened The law HI
been effective in is purpose 20 a CO
tain extent n the attorney gener
OF New Mexico does not snow tina
IA b. because. in his concentrate
upon his dutics, he has not had ain
f.tl.,. current aveufa