Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-08-19
THE FREE PRESS
AS 4 BLACKMA|LER

LAST evenings Free Press has an
article headed, Newspapers Owe
Duty to Their Community" This is
a platitude that no m can dispute.
II there ever was a newspaper that
fulfilled its whole duty to the COM
munity that paper is the Independent.
But by innuendo the Free Press tries
to create the impression that the In.
dependent is derelict in its duty to the
community.
The Free Press says, I'VE admire
the open confession Of the %Independ-
ent In ranging itself on the side of the
Telephone company, but doubt its
wisdom"
The Free Press does not quote a
line from the Independent, not a word.
The Independents editorial was in
plain Englisl! and speaks for itself.
The Free Press a not quote it, dare
not quote 1t. But by insinuation the
Free Press attempts to m%isconstrue
the Independents article. This meth
cd on the part of the Free Press is
the tactics of a newspaper whose on
ly trade is that of libel.
In its article Tuesday all that the
Independent asked was fair play for
the Telephone company. 1t would do
this for the veriest criminal. At the
October term of court there are six
men to be tried for murder. The In
dependent demands for each of these
defendants a fair trial. But in doing
duty to the public. The Independent
asks nothing more, nothing less, for
the public utilities corporations that
serve the people of Elko. 1t believes
that the sense of justic in this COM
munitly will give these corporations
a fair hearing.
But how Is il with the Free Press?
Every m knows that its fight against
the Telephone company and the Water
company is one of blackmail, pure and
simple. 1t is not II the least for the
public good. but to vent personal
spite against employees and for merci-
nary motives.
The Free Press says, "a newspaper
Is the servant of the public in every
Of the word, and it's duty is to
protect at all times the interests of
Its master. When 1t has once been
shown that It has deliberately used its
influence against its patrons, 1t loses
what prestige 1t has had"
Yet the Free Press not only stands
ready to use what little influence It
has against The public but to do so for
a price. It is well known that the
telephone company and the water COM
pany could have had the support of
the Free Press had they wanted it.
But they did not want 1t, and they re-
fused to be blackmailed.
The Free Press asks the people to
withdraw their patronage from the In
dependent. 1t says If the people and
business mon" think the Free Press
Is right they will withdraw their
patronage from the paper which is the
friend Of the corporations"
This is tho language of the charla-
tan and demagogue. Fortunately the
people Of Elko are too enlightened for
such drivel 10 have any effect. Many
of our stock ranges, and our mines,
and our hotels and even our stores are
operated by corporations. The Free
Press itself Is owned by a corporation.
The day has passed when an unprln.
cipled newspaper can create prejudice
by raising a cry against the corpora
tons.
The Free Press concludes its TRADE
as follows, 1T Is now up to the pub.
lie to make known their preference of
the attitude of the two local news.
papers"
The question is not only up to the
public but has been up for some time.