Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-01
NEWSPAPER ACT
AROUSED FURORE
Governor Pennypacker Tells OF
Heated Reception by
Press and Public
pENNyrACKER AUTOBIoGRaPHy-N0. oS
copyright, 1918. bv Public Ledger Company

DECLARING the habitual publication
- and dissemination by newspapers.
journals, periodicals, pamphlets or cir
cuiars OF falsehood, defamation and
scandal to be public n n-isance, and
providing for the abatement thereof.
Section I. BE IL enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives OF the
Commonwealth OF Pennsylvania in Cen
eral Assembly met, and 1t is hereby en-
acted by the authority OF the same, That
the habitual publication and dlssemina.
ton by newspapers, journals, periodicals,
pamphlets or circulars of falsehood, de-
famatlon and scandal detrimental to the
administration of public affairs, whether
State, county or municipal. or injurious
to the reputation and character of public
officials, or of private persons, be declared
to he public nuisance.
Section H. Any six persons, citizens
of this Commonwealth, may present a
petition to the Attorney General OF the
commonwealth, setting forth the deslS'
nation and description Of the publication
constituting such a public nuisance, the
fact that it habitually publishes and dis.
seminates falsehood, defamation and
scandal, giving the particulars and de-
tails in at least three instances of false,
defamatory or scandalous statements or
representations so published, and further
setting forth the special injury. IL there
be such injury. Thereupon, If in the judg.
ment of the Attorney General there shall
appear to be n prima facie case estab-
lished, requiring his Intervention, IL shall
be his duty to file a bill in equity in the
name OF the Commonwealth in the Court
OF Common Pleas of the county in which
such publication has been made setting
forth the facts and praying for the abate'
ment OF the nuisance.
Section III. Upon the trial of the case,
If the evidence shall show the habitual
publication and dissemination Of false,
defamatory or scandaiOus statements or
representations, whether in the form OF
news, comment or illustration, ii shall be
the duty of the court to make decree
directing the suppression Of the publica-
ton of the newspaper or newspapers,
journal or journals. periodical or period
icals, pamphlet or pamphlets, or circular
or circulars, in whole or in part, as in its
judgment may be necessary for the
abatement of the nuisance.
Section ". The Attorney General is
hereby authorized upon filing vouchers
with the Auditor General to receive from
the State Treasury such sums as may be
required for the costs and expenses of
all such proceedings prosecuted by him.
Section v. All acts or parts of acts in
consistent herewith be and the same are
hereby repealed.
t.submltted to the Legislature by Governor
Pennypacker in connection with his message.l
A Heated Reception
There was no consultation with any of
the politicians in the preparation Of this
message, and it was seen by nobody prior
10 its presentation to the Assembly. As
was to be anticipated, the suggestion of
bpt, aptinr, in nj nf sNalInyry
nalism' was like stirring up a cage of wild
animals. The newspapers met the sugges.
ton, as usual not with argument or rea-
soning, but by objurgation and a strained
effort to make still uglier pictures. I did
not attempt to influence the members of
the Legislature in any way and contented
myself with having pointed out a method
by which this great evil could be controlled,
should they choose to adopt it, Senator
James p. McNichol came to me and said
he proposed to vote for the measure if It
did not receive another vote in the Senate
or House
Penrose said l ought to have presented
the measure two years before, when It
could have been passed. I think a large
of the members Of the Legsa.
ture and Of the people would have been
pleased TO have seen it part of our statu.
tory law, but the legislators and the marty
leaders were both timid The spirit was
willing, but the flesh was weak. II is tho
true solution of the difficulty, nevertheless
Intentional falsehood is not information
ana cannot hide itself behind the liberty
Oh the press; TO indulge in malice is not to
publish a newspaper; obscene literature
may be destroyed as a nuisance, and on tbe
same principle the Government of ,bo
United States throws out of the mails
everything of this character.
Penrose had heard that 7 nronosaa :.
urge a reapportionment of the State into
senatorial and legislative districts. He
said to me:
III you wish to recommend reannor
uoninent in perfunctory wav vo,, ne,
90 IL, or course but 1t will have no effao;
me thing cannot be done. II has been
tried too often. 'eeh
I replied:
senator, i Intend to recommend n and
ilot IN perfunctory way but with the
intention to have it done, if possible
Among the milder comments was this
brochure, which appeared in the New Wi,
Globe under the name of Wallace Irwin.
PENNYPACKER OF PENN
One moment, please, while a line I scan
TO a genial, popular, elderly man
who's always able and willing 10 b,ess
The noble gentlemen of the press,
For the friends are many
OF Governor Penny
Pennypacker of Penn.
When an artist calls with a pad IN trsoa
The lineaments of that thouehtf,Il face
The dear old Governor utters a shout
And orders the State Militia out.
For the whin)6 are many
OF Governor Penny
Pennypacker of Penn.
When cub reporter suggests a steal"
In Pennsylvania grab.bag deal.
The Governor sees that the wight Ia tools
And drawn and quartered and hung on
hook,
To please the many
Admirers of Penny
Pennypacker of Penn.
II newspaper hints that Governor p
Is only human like you ana me.
He has the editor shot on sight
And blows up his Office with dynamite.
Which Is good as any
Explosive to Penny