The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-12-17
LIBEL SUITS IN RETROSPECT.

Libel suits are an unsasfying fruit to cultivate. They
rarely bear the plaintiff desires Arrival at the intent
and purpose of article, alleged to be lbeous, unless
the libel apparent the surface, requires an inquiry
into contemporaneous, and oft times into exraneou
matters The law allows considerable latitude, and this
applies particularly where the action of public ohcials
are involved criticism. The courts have held that the
public welfare may arraignment Of those
persons charged with the performance of public duties,
when question of delinquency arises The truth OF the
charge of delinquency Immediately arises and this is fo
lowed by an inquiry into the intent of the author OF the
ALLEGED libel 1t appears at once that suit Tor libel can
and usually does territory not Immediately involved
few years ago President Roosevelt thought that the
government of the United States had been hbeled by
criticisms aimed at the methods by which he and his as
sociates in Office had acquired the Panama Canal zone
Suits for libel instituted by the government against
the indianapolis Star The suits held fire for quite while
and finally resulted in the defeat of the government
A little while ago William Barnes OF New York instr
uted libel suit against Co. Roosevelt because the Coonei
had stated that Mr. Barnes political boss and was
in cahoots with the leader of Tammany Hail. The suit is
still fresh the public mind and reference to the disaster
to Barnes is unnecessary this time We would call at
tention however the fact that Col Roosevelt was al
lowed to wander all New York in his successful
effort to prove his allegations
However the right to criticize public officials was es-
tablshed in the eighteenth century No government Of
fetal was ever more successfully bitterly attacked
than the British government from Hoz to MS Al
that time VIGOROUSLY corrupt and incompetent ministry
conducted the government Junus and Klndred writers
not only attacked the ministry but aimed their shafts at
the king himself Libel suits instituted with such
ptul results that since free and untrammeed
press existed throughout the British empire In this
country public men have always been deemed subject tc
criticism and many times with little provocaton
Today threat of libel is looked upon with hearty con-
tempt by every decent newspaper publisher.
The Tribune has stated that the ant-nepotsm law o.
Idaho has been violated in Canyon county The law has
been violated Nepotism in government was considered
so nmical the public welfare that the state Legislature
passed law prohibiting it and providing heavy punish
ment for violations of the law. We understand why
the public officials and especially the prosecuting attor
ney should consider the charge most grave and serious
one The charge grave and serious and it is truthful
Instead talking of bringing suit against The Tribun
for libel the attorney for the county should proceed agans
his associate in Office who is guilty of the charge
An honest effort enforce the antinepotism law will
butter more parsnps for the county attorney than eff
fort to throttle criticism of public officials.