South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-19

on that point. we would say that it
has been giving Mr.. Taggart too much
q prominence in democratic affairs;
more than ne deserves. perhaps. re-
gardless OF the tenor OF the prom
( inence. ON the other hand, We are
Of the opinion that both Mr. Taggart
and the democratic party have ac-
cumulated a hatred for the News that
/ !nclines toward giving it too much
I prominence. This has been evident
I throughout the present session OF the
legislature, and especially SO in the
recent action of the French Lick man
in demanding of the senate that the
News be Investigated.
If the indianapolis News can he
I dragged before the state senate and
/ held there for contempt. because OF
the criticism that 1t has heaped upon
Mr.. Taggart OF that body, even
/ though in the particular instance in
volved there should prove to have
been an element of misrepresentation.
( then the freedom Of the press in In
diana is no more and scarcely a news
! paper in the state but that is sim
/ ilarly liable. The basic truth or un-
truth Of a criticism need scarcely be
Z taken into account if such a program
can be pursued. If the legislature
! tial politician friendly TO a legislature
which in turn is friendly to him, feels
| himself offended, the rest will be COM
paratively easy. The legislature sit
/ ting as Judge in a case that involves
I either real or an imaginary wrong
/ sumptive victim, will find ii easy
enough to pronounce the perpetrator
! of the conceived Offense guilty, and
with the power to prescribe it's own
! penalties, there is no other system Of
Jurisprudence in the world, or known
to history, TO compare with its posi-
oilities for evil
| BY such a proceeding the most cor
| rupt legislature that ever existed
might either force into being o long
list of editorial martyrs TO it's cussed-
| ness, or as the other alternate. alb
solutely prohibit criticism of its rot
tenness. Our plea is one to the juris-
| diction rather than TO the merits OF
| the particular case. and our defense
one OF public policy rather than to
excuse any misconduct, such as is al
| legged to have inspired the undertak-
ing. We hold no brief, in other words,
| for the Indianapolis News. but we do
hold one for the entire press of Indi-
ANA brief OF our own self-appoirt-
| ment, if you please.-and while we
shall feel called upon to do no more
| than what we can to mould public
| opinion against such a program, that
much we shall do in this neck OF the
woods" and believe it to be the duty
| of every other newspaper In the state
| with respect to their own community.
Mr.. Taggart has his remedy in the
] courts for any injustice that may have
been done him by accusing him of
| being a senate boss. The best way for
the senate to prove that Ii is void Of
| outside control, is for the majority TO
so conduct that body with an eye
single TO the party's pledges, the
working out OF the party's principles,
| and a paramount service TO all the
people. that no one save a rank oppo-
sitionist can doubt It. The way Mr..
] Taggart addressed the legislature. al
! most semi-cOmmanding il TO make
! an investigation Of the News charges,
] and in language quite plainly suggest
| ing the punishment of that paper
l rather than the generation OF the
| senate itself, looked just a trifie boss
/ like TO say the least-apd. the way
| Sen. Van Nuys, majority floor leader,
at once flashed his resolution provid-
/ ing for compliance with the semi
1 command. as If by prearrangement
/ doesn't serve 10 lessen that appear
ance. Understand. we are opposing
/ the proceeding. to do which, and reach
I the root OF it. it Is quite essential to
review that proceeding from its start
And TO think that it all hinges on
the legislation with regard to those
/ kingship bills-creating a board Of
1 finance for Mayor Bell and an extra
/ police judge for Chief PARROT OF the
police department. The whole affair
/ isn't worth the bad precedent that the
senate is setting by the course IL is
pursuing and besides. why enhance
the circulation Of the News by an Of
fetal manner toward it, that practi-
cally forces the public 10 read it? It
looks like a whole lot OF short-sight-
edness. as well as poor craftsmanship.
and YOU can view il from whichever
angle you please.