Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-14
GOV. M'kELV|E
ATTACKS ETHICS
OF NEWbRANCH
Says Criticism Contributed
Much to His Success in EIec-
ton Last Nall; Credit
Should Go Where Due.
By a Staff Correspondent.

Lincoln April 13.NGovernor Nc
Kelvie Saturday gave out copy Of
a letter which he has sent to H. E
Newbranch of, Omaha, editor of the
World-Herald, regarding an edi-
torial which appeared in that paper
recently, entitled Nebraska Bolshe-
vism."
The letter is as follows:
l rarely find time weighing SO lightly
upon my hands that feefthat / can
afford to waste 1t reading the effusions
from your facile pen. Yesterday, how
ever. someone brought to my attention
your editorial entitled Nebraska Bolshe-
visU. and while I must admit I have
not taken the time to read all of 1t, the
temper Of 1t seems to he very much op-
posed to recognize the rights of Nebraska
farmers In extending their agencies of dis
tribution to the places which are in effect,
public markets. l am not surprised that
YOU have taken that position, nof--do I
think the screams of horror which you
unit upon this occasion will penetrate far
into the ears OF those who believe in a
wise solution of the farmers economic
problems Indeed. it not upon this
point that l am prompted toA write you,
for | realize that any arguments which
hight be educed in this matter would be
nke wasting sweetness upon the desert
Dir" when expended on you.
Editorial Ethics.
My real motive in writing you was to
prompt you for just moment In the mat
ter of editorial ethics. and inasmuch as
we are of the same fraternity in a pro-
fessional sense, think I may be per-
United to offer a suggestion along this
line.
You make frequent quotations Aom the
0f Ska
and l want to thank you for it. l want
to suggest, however, that in making such
quotations, you give credit where 1T be-
longs. namely, to the editor who signs the
page. and In this connection I want to
call your attention to the fact that the
columns Of the Nebraska Farmer recog-
nize the rights OF the readers of the pub
LEGATION by establishing a definite author
ship in connection with each article pub
lished therein. a.
Credit Where Due.
The reason l call attention TO this fact
at this time Is that in your references to
the editorial page Of the Nebraska Farm
err. you persistently attempt to convey the
impression TO your readers that ! am
still writing the editorial page for that
publication. This is not fair to your read
ers nor is 1t fair to c. W. Pugsley. who
writes that page. signs his name to 1t and
receives a modicum of reward for his
efforts. Just az l want credit for doing
khe work In connection with the position
which I now occupy for the state, l de-
Ere that the editor of the Nebraska Farm
o. receive credit for his efforts.
+ preface my references to this sub
Sect by saying that this Is a matter OF
ethics. and I refer to that fact again with
the. further explanation that 1t is ethical
among ones engaged in the same business
at least to refuse to take no unfair ad-
vantage of each other. Furthermore In
the publishing business, truthfulness Is
recognised as fundamentally ethical, and
when I use this word truthfulness. do
not refer to the camoflaged article, but the
plain, old fashioned king which people
recognize on sight. In fact, the kind that
is used without evasion or which requires
such explanation as none other than your
able self might evolve.
Enjoys Criticism.
want to add further that Joy your
criticism OF myself You know Josh Bill
isgs says that 'every dog should have a
certain amount of feas to keep him from
forgetting that he is a dog" and ! take
1t that every man in public life needs
certain amount of knockers hanging on
his trail to keep him from forgetting that