The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-01-15
LARGER PAID UP CIRCULATION THAN ANY TWO OTHER NEWS
PAPERS IN THE CALUMET REGION.
DRIVES AT N EwsPAPERs.

Papers like THE TINES that believe in giving everybody a chance 70
ue, now pending there, is passed. AS the Baltimore American says so
perdnenHy:
There is a certain order Of intelligence that compliments itself by the
belief that it has done something Of superior brIance when it takes a
crack at newspapers. If the motive can be hidden behind some pretentious
emeal am the aeuteness IS n more pleasing PHlory the papers is the
slogan Of this class of annoying lnfputans They have neither the faculty
for fairness nOr the ability to distinguish between serviceabe endeavors and
~ o9pe-ly lWy o"meS SIT IN the sea OF M corn be-
eause they do 10 know enoush to realize that the object of their derisOn
selves.
ONE OF THE LATEST OF THE DRIVES AT NEWSPAPERS GOV.
Frs ITSELF WITH THE MANTLE OF PRoHuBIrIoN@ VERY WORTHY
MANTLE IN THE ESTIMATION OF VERY MANY PEOPLE, AND AN IN
WORTHY ONE IN THE ESTIMATION OF OTHERS.
But that is neither here o there n the matter in point. which is the
bill introduced into the House of Representatives and that has been com
mtted to ne committee Of postofhee and p@uoads. The intent of the bill
is to penaize newspapers that carry liquor advertisements into dry territory.
The persons backing this measure have passed over the virtue of the old
"aFnmg against swapping the devil fr a witch. They do not appreciate
the fact that the constitution of the United States strictly prohibits the
INTO eTectt heir drive apafnst nausnaner nnon suegad NOR, r-onu 70 % ~
one hold to such views as he may a to the morality of newspapers printing
liquor advertisements. The one who Sc thinks is int the company of those who
hold that theaters are highly Objectionable and their advertisements should
be suppressed. that dancing is highly Objectionable and all advertisements of
such should be suppressed. A thousand and n things representing differ
noes Of opinion could IS properly be prohibited from finding place in the
advertising space Of the newspapers.
The bill in question in effect forbids the use of the mails to news.
papers that carry liquor adverdsenents-the responsible conductor of the
newspaper being made liable to fine or imprisonment or both. The trainers
of this precious piece of legislation do not seen to appreciate the fact that
th n%s ~ S G5rhar uta-foraoo III +o nho ~ t ne Press Is uu
science and freedom Of political expression and classes Of business adver
tsement other than that of liquor.
THE BILL HITS NOT AT THE BREWERS OR THE PURvEYoRs
OF LIQUOR, But AT TIE NEWSPAPERS. ITS APPARENT DESIGN IS
TO LIMIT DEBATE UPON THE VIRTUES OF PROHIBITION. The spoons
orsf for the bill must hold that the liquor advertisements have weight against
their propagandas. else why the legislation? OF course. the avowed pur.
poses do not cover settled animus against the agencies of intelligence. There
are many who hold this feeling toward the newspapers because they have
thrown the light upon acts or the records of this. that or the other person
and thereby have made enemies in the aus of righteousness by the score
Hence this class of persons hold that If ne can brandish a tomahawk over
he heads Of the newspapers in the glare If congress- at nee all the tribes
Of the offended ones will take up the wal cry and whoop for the bill. Per-
secution pure and simple, not morality. is the basis of the proposed legIa-
lion. The measure carries n ethical implications. for there can be very
little harm done by liquor advertisements in dry terntory-f the territory
Is actually dry.
Where prohibition cannot win by per and approved means, the news
papers ire to be penaHzed by such underhand and disngenuous legislation
as the proposed bill, It is a wonder that the friends of this legislation have
never thought Oft the boomerang effect of such enterprise. There are multi
tudes If persons who stand for prohibition who do not stand for tapping the
dls 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 fol the cause on merit who will be turned away from it if it
adopts the proposed tactics.
THE MEASURE IS CONDEMNED IN PUBLIC INTELLIGENCE BE
CAUSE IT DOES NOT HARM THE ONES AGAINST WHOM IT Is PRO
FEssEDLY DIRECTED-THE BREWER; BECAUSE IT AssAILS
THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. WHICH IS THE FREEDOM OF THE
PEOPLE: BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS TACTICS THAT ARE DIsCREDIT
ABLE: BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS INNOVATION, AND BECAUSE IT
is INSPIRED BY GENERAL ANIIUs AGAINST NEWSPAPERS. Hence
tie measure should be and is likely to. be killed with credit to congress. Let
prohibition win O lose upon legitimate grounds is the view held by the ma
Jonty Of the people"