Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-16
EDITOR MILLER
MAKES PROTEST
Head Of New York Times Resents
Attempt Of Senate Committee TO
Impugn Motives of Paper,
BAN ON LIBERTY OF THE PRESS

1
WASHINGTON, March 15.-vigor.
Gus protest against the tendency of
\ governmental Investigations to place
the newspapers of the country under
sort Of duress," was made today by
Charles r. Miller, editor-in-chief of
the New York Times, before the SEN
ate lobby investigating committee.
Chairman Walsh had questioned MIR.
Miller at length as to editorials and
news stories in his paper, bearing on
the ship bill, trust prosecutions and
railway mail. At the conclusion of
his examination Miller questioned
the authority of the committee to in
quire as to many OF the matters dis
cussed and said:
II can see no ethical, moral or legal
right in this committee to ask me many
of the questions you have put to make
it. II seems to me II will be right for
you to inquire whether 1 know of any
improper activities in connection with
the ship purchase bill. / have told you
the matter should have ended.
/ Press Under Kind of Duress.
THE tendency TO continue inquiries
along the lines of tins investigation, it
seems to me, would be TO reduce the
press of the United states to the condi-
ton of the press of some of the capitals
of central Europe. 1t is known as the
reptile press; where is crawls on its
belly to the foreign office and tile gov
eminent officials every day to get its
orders. This continued investigation,
believe. is a kind of infringement of the
liberty of the press 1t puts the news
papers of the country under a kind Of
duress l could not let this occasion pass
without entering by protest against it"
Senator Walsh compared an article as
published in the Times with articles In
other New York papers
The article disclosed that there were
no sailings from New York to England
scheduled for a week. The Times article,
while 1t appeared on the first page,
Senator Walsh pointed out was shorter
than those of the other papers.
This article would impress the public
with the fact that there was no ship
ping facilities, would 1t not?" he asked.
1T would impress the public with tho
fact that there was a war" replied Mr..
Miller. There may be many mechanical
or other reasons for the position of that
item. besides a narrow and crooked soul.
There can be no possible Implication that
| the Times wanted TO minimize its i'm
portance."
Protests Against IBsinuatfon.
Senator Walsh asked why the Times
had not printed an account Of the testi-
mony of p. A. b. Franklin of the Inter-
national Mercantile Marine before the
committee. MIR. Miller said he knew
nothing of the matter.
II must protest" he continued, against
any attempt to indicate or insinuate that
there has been any effort to SUPPRESS or
pervert the news appearing in the Times
on account with our opposition to the
shipping bill The nature of your ques-
lions indicates that you have a suspicion
that we pervert the physical appearances
! OF the Times to accord with the policy
| expressed in its editorial columns.
Nothing could be more erroneous OF
more utterly without foundation. We
| endeavor to make the news column re
| fleet the news of the day at It occurs.
The editorial columns go their way and
| the news columns go theirs"