New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-28
\ Blow at the Freedom of the Press


reference to indictments for smuggling 1t will lena
all the assistance in its power TO carry the cases up
to the Supreme Court Of the United States. Judge
Hand himself gave expression TO the idea that 'nc
technical issues involved should be passed upon D!
tho highest court The Tribune would be false to
g., record a. defender of the freedom of the press
If il did not resist the bitter end proceed'n5
which trenches upon that liberty and seeks to cripple
the efficiency Of the press helpful critic OF puoh'
mcf ana public measures.
We shall continue to expose crime wher-
ever we may find it, and shall not become
party to any system which will result In shield
inc suuooIers or other criminals, no matter
how much the administration may wish to
conceal the facts.
4. an onnosition newspaper The Tribune has in
Cured the enmity Of men at the top near the top
Of the Treasury Department. We published the
facts concerning the acquisition Of the United states
Trust Company by the Munsey Trust Company OF
Washington. and undoubtedly stored up wrath for
ourselves bv emphasizing the role played IN tha'
transaction by the relationship of an ohcai III
the NInsey Trust Company to the present Controller
Of the Currency then Assistant Secretary OF tne
Treasury But we waive that personal aspect OF the
matter Even had there been possible element
Of i'll feeling in the Treasurys attitude in the pros
ccution Of these cases should still regard tne
action taken by 1t as unreasonable and oppressive
The Treasury Departments position is extreme
and un-American Carried to its logical conclusion
tho ploa NJ the department would set up in this
country an absolutely bureaucratic control OF all
information concerning governmental operations
which is to reach the public IT, as the District
Attorney has contended in these the diyuigng
Of information constitutes a crime for which both
the civer and the newspaper man who accepts 1t are
liable to punishment newspaper can hereafter
save at its great peril accept any news about gov
ornamental affairs not officially stamped with the
approval of the head of department
A Russian censorship would be established
and the public would be shut off from any
knowledge of public concerns except what 1t
might get from the rose-colored bulletins OF
departmental press agent.
That would be an ideal condition for an admins
ration annoyed by such disclosures as The Tribune
made recently in the Munsey Trust Company scan
dial But it would be condition intolerabe to the
public which looks TO vigilant opposition newspa-
pers to tell larger share Of truth than ordinarily
creeps into an administrations outgivings about It's
Wa do hppVn
United States is living under such press muzzlns
law If under our statutes are on the brink OF
a government censorship the offending statutes
ought to be repealed and that reasonable freedom
restored 10 the press which has proved Of such
enormous service in the of civilization and po-
litical progress.
The freedom Of speech and Of the press is essen
tial now as it ever Every form Of government
harbors abuses and If the power of the press and of
individuals to attack those abuses with the aid OF
information obtained from persons connected with
the administration is abridged safeguard Of good
government is stricken down. The press realizes
this. and will never betray the confidence rnder
which alone in many it is able TO collect infor
nation from inside the official pale.
The courts should be the last agency to
wish to put power to compel betrayal in the
hands of officialdom.
Such step backward is hardly conceivable in the
beginning of the twentieth century when the fight
FOR publicity in governmental operations has been
practically won. Even in the old days Of govern
mental omnipotence and nearly impotent public
opinion the press managed TO preserve liberty of
action which the Treasury Department through its
resort to an abnormal extension of the pardoning
power. is trying 10 destroy.
About forty years ago two of The Trbune'S CORE
spondents in Washington made public the text of an
important treaty pending in the United States Sen
ate This anront 10 the Senate rule of
secret consideration Of treaties and that body after
vanly trying 10 make the correspondents disclose
the source Of their information, applied for a con
tempt order and had them committed 10 jail They
did not purge themselves of contempt and public