New Britain herald., 1917-09-18
MISSION OF THE NEWSPAPER.
A Part of the Government, Just as Is Any Particular Department in
 Washington.

Washington.
 Publishers Auxiliary) Ever since men began to print things that other people did not like there has been more or less contro- versy concerning the function of the newspaper. The grafter has always declared that the newspaper is a public nuisance. the tyrant has contended that it is arrayed against the best in- terests of the state and the man with half-baked Theories of life has con- tended that the press Is the agent of the devil in overthrowing the morals of the community. Despite opposition. however, the press has won its way to freedom. Today 1t occupies an unique position. A very profound observer,
 in speaking of newspapers, said: What do we have the newspapers for? Why are they granted liberties under the Constitution? It is because they are needed as part of the gov trnment. They are a part of the gov ernment: unrestrained, but valuable and useful for that very reason. "A newspaper can print anything, even to erroneous statements. It can print anything except malicious lies.
 It's function in the government is to investigated, to pry into the business of every department of the govern ment, and to criticize wherever 1t sees fit.
 Tt sometimes makes me out of pa tience with newspapers that all do not realize their function, that they are virtually part of the government. It is their duty to find out evils wherever they exist and bring them to the at- tentton of the responsible authorities. They are the great safeguard against
 
 And how much better they can do
 this work than any grand jury: They have their men going about every.
 where, nosing into everything. If there is anything wrong they will be l sure to find 1t out. Some one will drop a hint. Then the facts are printed and they go immediately before the ad- ministrative officer who is responsible. If he does not act the remedy is still in the newspapers. They can bring the matter of the negligence of the public official to the attention of the persons to whom that official is responsible, and lastly they place all the facts before the people, who at
 any time can regulate anything under our form of government.
 "No, am not one who believes that the function of the grand jury has DdSS0u d way. nave IIAo 6l cdISSC AoACIl in the value of a good grand jury to investigate and criticise purely ad- ministrative matters. It will have all 1t can do to consider cases of crime brought before it.''
 The man who does not agree with | these sentiments will very likely say at once: "Who said that? Some editor very likely" But the man would be mistaken. It was not an editor who declared that newspapers are a part of the government. It was a lawyer, and more than that, lawyer who occupied a seat on the bench 1 The sentiment quoted is part of an l opinion delivered fro" the bench by Judge Mayer Sui: ~f Philadel- phia.
 So far as we now 1berger was the first judge to g. judicial standing to the newspaper as a part of the government. The Philadelphia jurist simply discovered fact that has been conceded by the general public in this country for many years. People who are inclined to disagree with the opinion that the newspapers are part of the government should try to conjure up a vision of a repub-
 lie in which there are no newspapers If good government is impossible
 without newspapers, then newspapers are part of good government.