The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-01-23
CONGRESS WOULD
HIT NEWSPAPERS

| Editorial in the Baltimore American)
There is a certain order of intelli-
gence that compliments itself by the
/ belief that il 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 news
papers" is the slogan of this class of
annoying lilliputians. They have
neither the faculty for fairness nor
the ability to distinguish between
serviceable endeavors and mischiev-
Gus 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 respectability 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 estimation of very
many people. and an unworthy one
in the estimation of others. But that
is neither here nor there in the mat
ter in point, which is the bill intro
duced into the House of Representa-
tives and that has been committed
TO the committee on postoffice and
postroads. The intent of the bill IS
to penalize newspapers that carry
liquor advertisements into dry ter
ritory. 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- |
tion of the United States strictly pro-
hibits the passage of law that would /
curtail the freedom of the press. /
Here is a superior prohibition that
these pinheads 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 adver-
tisements. The one who so thinks
is in the company of those who hold
that theatres are highly Objectionable
and their advertisements should be
that dancing is highly
and all advertisements
of such should be suppressed. A
thousand and one things representing
of opinion could as prop
erly be prohibited from finding place
in the advertising space of news
papers.
The bill in question in effect for
bids the use of the mails to news
papers that carry liquor advertise
responsible conductor of
the newspapers being made liable to
fine or Imprisonment or both. The
trainers of this precious piece of
legislation do not seem to appreciate
he fact that once the entering wedge
If interference with the freedom of
he press is used there would follow
'urther interferences in the sphere
If political expression and classes of /
business advertisement other than
hat of liquor.
The bill hits not at the brewers or
he purveyors of liquor, but at the
It's apparent design is
o limit debate upon the virtues of
The sponsors for the
,ill must hold that the liquor adver-
isements have weighed against their
else why the legisla-
ion? OF course, the avowed purposes
10 not cover settled animus against
he agencies of intelligence. There
ire many who hold this feeling to-
Yards the newspapers because they
lave thrown the light upon acts or
he records of this, that or the other
'erson and thereby made enemies in
he cause of Righteousness by the
core Hence this class of persons
Iold that if one can brandish toma-
lawk over the heads of the news !
'apers in the glare of Congress. at :
nee all the tribes of the offended :
mes will take up the warcry and
ghoop for the bill. Persecution pure
nd simple not morality, is the basis
f the proposed legislation. The
neasure carries no ethical implica-
ions. for there can be very little
arm done by liquor advertisements
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