New-York tribune., 1916-02-18
Teaching The Tribune"

Some months ago the Governors secre-
tary, Mr.. Orr, came to this office and IN
formed The Tribune that in view Of its crit
icism Of Mr.. Whitman's official course II
could not expect to be treated as Repub-
lican newspaper in the matter Of oihclal
advertising. The specific criticism of the
Governor which elected this declaration
was provoked by the Mohansic incident,
and The Tribune, like all other New York
newspapers, had protested against the pol
luton of the city water supply
The policy of teaching The Tribune
was put into immediate operation in the
matter of election advertising and The
Tribune was informed that as an act Of
discipline it was to be deprived of the
designation to print the regular election
notices.
Immediately this notice was conveyed TO
The Tribune it sent for Mr.. Samuel ).
Koenig, President Of the Republican
County Committee and asked if he in
tended to follow the orders which had been
issued. Mr.. Koenig. frankly concedlng
that the pressure had been exerted to per-
suade him to do this, declared that he
had declined to accept such orders, that he
did not play politics that way and that
he purposed to designate The Tribune.
But the campaign to "teach The Trib-
une" was not abandoned. The Public Ser
vice Commission has long been tenant
of The Tribune Association, occupying
considerable space in its building. The
Public Service Commissions lease was to
expire this year, and The Tribune early
received wholly veracious information
from completely informed sources that the
lease would not be renewed.
In so far as this was matter OF busl-
ness The Tribune had no right to COM
plain. but to the extent that 1t was mat
ter of attempting TO coerce a newspaper
low attacking its sources Of revenue and
either compelling it to refrain from criti-
cising a public officer or Furnishing 1t for
making such criticism, The Tribune felt,
and feels, that its readers should know
about it.
The Real Estate Board has already un-
dertaken to investigate the terms and con-
ditions of the new lease the Public Service
Commission has signed for space IN other
buildings. Possibly the Thompson Com
mittee may also find time to go into the
evidence and pass on the merits of the
business question involved For itself The
Tribune believes that some interesting de-
tails might be disclosed.
However, the fact which The Tribune is
now interested in setting forth is that II
was warned in advance that if IT continued
10 criticise Governor Whitman it would be
punished. The attempt was openly made
TO punish it in the case of the election ad
yertising, and it failed only because the
local Republican leader declined to ODE!
the orders that were issued TO him. The
threat as to the Public Service Commits
sion's removal from The Tribune Building
was made, and Governor Whitman's Pub
lie Service Commission has decided to 60
If Governor Whitman, if his advisers
both in official and political life, believed
that they could ihtimidate The Tribune
they know now they were mistaken. l
they imagined that by striking at its in
come they could punish and cripple it, the.
may presently discern their mistake. |
is not for The Tribune TO comment on tn
wisdom of the policy which seeks to muzzl
the press in this fashion: its duty is per
formed when it has told the truth.