The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-16
DRIVES AT NEWSPAPERS
(From the Baltimore American

(F'rom the Baltimore American)
There is certain order of intelli-
gence. that compliments itself by the
belief that it has done something of
superior brilliance when it takes a
crack at newspapers. If the motive
can be hidden behind some preten-
tious ethical aim, the acuteness is
the more pleasing ''Pillory the pa
pers' is the slogan Of this class OF
annoying lilliputians. They have
neither the faculty for fairness nor
the ability to distinguish between SER
viceable endeavors and mischievous
propensity. They oftimes sit In the
seat of the scorner because they do
not know enough to realize that the
object of their derision wears the
badge of Responsibility with which
they can never adorn themselves. One
of the latest of the drives at newspa-
pers covers itself with the mantle Of
prohibition - very worthy mantle
in the estimation Of very many peo-
pie. and an unworthy one in the esti-
nation OF others. 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 Postoffice and Postroads. The in
tent OF the bill is to penalize news
papers that carry liquor ADVERTISE
ments into 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
constitution Of the United States
strictly prohibits the passage of a
law that would curtail the freedom Of
the press. Here is a superior prohi-
bftfon that these pir-heads would set
aside in order to carry into effect
their drive against newspapers upon
alleged moral grounds. Let one hold
to such views as he may as to the
morality of newspapers printing liquor
advertisements. The one who so
thinks is in the company of those
who hold that theatres are highly
Objectionable and their advertise
ments 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 prohi-
bited from finding place in the ad-
vertising space of the newspapers.
The bill in question in effect for
DlQS the use Ol tftS " ICWS-
papers that carry liquor advertise
ments-the responsible conductor of
the newspaper being made liable to
fine or Imprisonment or both. The
trainers of this previous piece Of leg
islation do not seem to appreciate
the fact that once the entering wedge
of interference with the freedom of
the press is used there would follow
further interferences in the sphere Of
freedom of conscience and freedom of
political expression and classes Of
business advertisement other than that
of liquor
The bill hits not at the brewers or
the purveyors of liquor, but at the
newspapers. It's apparent design Is
to limit debate upon the virtues of
prohibition. The sponsors for the
bill must hold that the liquor adver-
tisements have weight against their
propagandas, else why the legislation?
OF course, the avowed purposes 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 rec
ords Of this, that or the other per-
SOM and thereby have made enemies
in the cause of. Righteousness by the
score. Hence this class of persons
hold that IL, one can brandish a toma-
hawk over the heads of the newspa-
pers 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 proposed legislation. The meas
ures carries no ethical implications, for
there can be very little harm done by
liquor advertisements in dry terri
tory-if the territory is actually dry.
Where prohibition cannot win by
: open and approved means, the news