Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-02-09
DRIVES At NEWSPAPERS

DelleI tndt IL mas uOHe sOneIHinR OF
superior brilliance when it takes a
crack at newspapers. IL the motive
can be hidden behind some preten-
tious ethical aim, the acuteness is the
more pleasing. "Pillory the papers"
Is the slogan of this class of annoying
lilliputians. They have neither the
faculty for fairness nor the ability to
distinguish between serviceable en-
deavors and mischievous propensity.
They oftimes sit i'm the seat of the
scorner because they do not know
enough to realize that the object of
their derision wears the badge OF re-
spectability with which they can never
adorn themselves. One of the latest
Of the drives at newspapers covers
itself with the mantle of prohibition
"a very worthy mantle in the estima-
ton Of very many people, and an I'M
worthy one in the estimation Of 9TH
ers. But that is neither here nor
there in the matter in point, which is
the bill introduced into the house of
representatives and that has been
committed to the committee Of post
effice and postroads. The intent of
the bill is to penalize newspapers that
carry liquor advertisements in dry
territory. The persons backing this
measure have passed over the virtue
of the old warning against swapping
the devil for witch. They do not
appreciate the fact that the constitu-
ton of the United States strictly pro-
hibits the passage of law that would
curtail the freedom of the press. Here
Is superior prohibition that these
heads would set aside in order to
carry into effect their drive against
newspapers upon alleged moral
grounds. Let one hold to such views
a. he may as to the morality of news
papers printing liquor advertisements.
The one who so thinks is in the COM
pany of those who hold that theaters
are highly Objectionable and their adj
vertisements should be suppressed,
that dancing is highly Objectionable
and all advertisements of such should
be suppressed. A thousand and one
things representing differences of
opinion could as properly be prohibi-
ted from finding place in the adver-
tisement space Of the newspapers.
The bill in question in effect forbids
the use of the mails to newspapers
that carry liquor advertisements
responsible conductor of the news
paper being made liable to fine or i'm
prisonment or both. The trainers OF
this precious piece OF legislation do
OF seem to appreciate the fact that
once the entering wedge Of interior
,encs with the freedom Of the press is
ced, there would follow further in
=, ference in the sphere Of freedom Of
and freedom of political
expression and classes of business ad
vertisement other than that of liquor
The bill hits not at the brewer OF
the purveyors of liquor, but at the
newspapers. Its apparent design is
to limit debate upon the virtues OF
prohibition. The sponsors for the bill
must hold that the liquor advertise
ments have weight against their pro-
pagandas, else why the legislation? Oh
course, the avowed purposes do moi
cover settled animous against the
agencies of Intelligence. There are
many who hold this feeling toward
the newspapers because they have
thrown light upon acts or the records
of this, that or the other person and
thereby have made enemies in the
cause of Righteousness by the score
Hence this class of people hold that il
one can brandish a tomahawk over
the heads of the newspapers in the
glare of congress, at once all the
tribes of the offended ones will take
up the war cry and whoop for the
bill. Persecution pure and simple
not morality, is the basis of the pro-
posed legislation. The measure car
ries no ethical implications, for there
can be very little harm done by liquor
advertisements in dry territory-ii
the territory is actually dry.
Where prohibition cannot win by
open and approved means, the news
papers are to be penalized by such I'M
derhand and disingenuous legislation
% the proposed bill. 1t is wonder
that the friends of this legislation have
never thought of the boomerang ef-
fects of such enterprise. There are
multitudes of persons who stand for
prohibition who do not stand for tap
ping the tills of the newspapers as
punishment to them for failing in all
instances to support the prohibition
propaganda. There are hundreds OF
persons who would vote for the cause
on merit who will be turned away
fran it If it adopts the proposed tao
tics. The measure is condemned in
public intelligence because it does not
harm the ones whom it is professedly
directed-the brewer; because 1t as
aails the freedom of the press. which