The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-10-24
PORTLAND JOURNAL
ABUSES PRIVILEGE

Through force of circumstances the
newspapers have. 20 a large extent.
become Law makers tn matters of direct
legislation. More ana more the voter
neglects 20 study measures for himself
and relies upon the advice Of his favor
ite publication.
This has been remarked by promi-
nent citizens OF opposite extremes OF
poIitica. thought Yet but one news
paper In Oregon has ever drafted a
bill, paid the cost Of its initiation and
made the blll lis own.
The Portland Journal mas in the past
initiated aUd fatheTed measures. Its
publisher IS said To have expended up
wards Of S4W0 10 force upon the ballot
this year TWO bills relating to neWspa-
per advertising.
The corrupt practice act places Ger
tain restrictions upon the expenditure
of money by corporations In the inter-
est of candidates. Yet a newspaper,
If II determines To use its influence
and it organization TO foster legislation
Of particular type. can 90 farther to
ward attaining It's ends than any rail-
road or bank or manufactory IN pur-
chasing candidates for the legislature
The large newspaper 5 organization
IS state wide. 1t mas employees in
every town and in nearly every ham
let. These II can require to do its bid.
ding on penalty OF dismissal.
The newspaper has space on its
pages which 1t will not sell at any
price to advertisers. This preferred
space is at liberty to utilize for its
own ends.
If "A newspaper will it, there may be
constantly at Its door a group OF syco-
plants ready TO do whatever II desires,
IN return for small crumbs of publca-
ton. No matter what its devious
course, it seems also to be true that
any newspaper can attain a following
which believes implicitly anything II
may publish.
Here are elements sufficient to ere
ate kaiser or czar out of any newspa-
per of large circulation in Oregon
which may elect to devote them to Its
own ends.
The journal has manufactured an
issue out OF nothing. 1t has paid to
put the issue before the people 1t has
put its employees to work scanning the
books of every county for material
that may be twisted into an argument
in favor of its position. Ii is devoting
space that no other lawgiver would be
permitted to use at any price. 1t is
searching out those persons who be
lleVe 1t or fear It, or merely rejoice in
notoriety to interview in behalf of its
policy. While complaining that the
country newspapers term its publisher
ear and do not discuss the merits of
It's bill, 1t has never yet. on its own
account, published an honest statement
as to the present law which it seeks to
amend or an honest statement as to
what its bill would do. Its attempt is
plainly desire to illustrate or prove
is power as ear.
1t is withal gross abuse of Journal
lstIc power and ethics and a betrayal
OF such confidence as is reposed in that
publication. If there should ever come
the day when the Oiegonian, the Iele-
gram. the News, the Voter the Labor
Press the journal and every other
spaper big or little, had its own pet
OIL, made IN ITS own otfice, and clrcu-
lated by expenditure OF its own money,
On that day the people Will doubtless
rise and smlte the initiative and refer
endum out Of existence.
1t IS "A proper thing to point out the
abuse Of the power OF the press in this
instance. The issue is far greater
one than the merit or deceit Of the
particular measure so unscrupuluosly
presented. Oregonian