The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-24
MISS RANKIN AND THE NEWS.
PAPERS,.

Since an issue has arisen between
Representative Rankin and The Wash.
ington Times over the authenticity OF
an interview of serious moment to the
people of Montana, and especially to
the editors Of the newspapers In this
state. we offer to our readers a detailed
story Of all the facts SO far as are
known. This account may be found in
another page Of this newspaper and
should be read carefully II is sub.
people Of this state for several rea-
sons.
First. There arises the question as
to whether Miss Rankin did or did not
give this interview. We present the
facts on both sides and leave the read
er to determine his or her conclusion.
Second. Having Miss Rankin's state
ment that she was lnisquoted we must
accept her word that at this time she
the Interview.
WiN-the. thought that this was
favorable time to thresh out the SUBJ
jeet of a corporation controlled press
of Montana, the .sdllor q The Mis-.
soulian wrote to the editors>of other
Montana new spapcrs for their vieWS@
Miss Rankin's statement with regard
to the extent of corporation control Of
the state government and the news
papers OF Montana. These will be
printed in adjoining columns on this
page and we commend them to the
serious attention of our readers.
For many years. attacks upon the
newspapers of Montana have been
common with hare-brained dema-
gogues, political castoffs and in
cendiaries Of Il particularly vicious
type. The newspapers. as II. rule. have
given no attention to this stuff, be-
cause these political and social crooks
have not succeeded in getting
the, confidence Of even handful
of people in their honesty or capability
for anything worth while. When the
full glare Of publicity has been turned
upon them, they wither like moths In
the flame and the only recourse that
press of Montana as corporation.
owned. All of us have seen them come
and go after the brand of failure has
been set upon them. At this hour there
are several of this type in the state.
who Will disappear later when they
have been shown to the public II is
needless to say, that the task OF eX-
posing these self seekers Is not always
pleasant, hut no newspaper worthy o
the name will shrink from it. That is
il duty to the public and whenever il
is performed, the victim always erie
forth that he is being aSsassinated y!
newspapers owned by corporations.
AS We have stated, the neWspa per
give no attention TO the hoWls of thi
pack Of vermin- ridden coyotes; the.
are too sinai! to notice. 1t is only whe;
u representative in public office, wit
the high standing of Miss Rankin wit
the people of this community, repeat
such a charge that We deem 1t a prope
time to place the facts before tn
people. We will do Miss Rankin tn
credit to say, that We think her in
tel!isence too great to permit her I
believe the statement for which sh
was credited.
Our own view is that Miss Rank
talked rather loosely and if she state
the things that she IS quoted as say
ing, she did not mean them. Cer,ainl,
the charge that the copper company. G
any other company controls the pres
OF this state is both absurd an
without the fabric of truth. The lette,
which we print in other columns a,
most illuminating and interesting Q
this point
Dean Arthur L. Stone is u vetera
newspaper editor of the highest Wort
and the head Of the School Of Journa
ism of the University of Montan
where YQFk Of the post valuable kir
IL heinSs nnep1S train young men f
successful and honorable careers
-pewspaper work. We know no one