Arizona republican., 1919-08-21
EDITORIAL
PRESS AND POLICE
c. G. H., Editor

Ever since We came flying out of the police station ill a certain large city, with the imprint of a burly desk ser geant's No. 10 on the seat of our pants, we have regretted that stralned f.ia- tions should come to exist between the press and the so-called guardians of the peace"
 Our regret has been renewed recently by reading the dialogue between the local night cap and a reporter for our most esteemed contemporary, The Ari- zona Republican. The story, you may recall, involved midnight street brawl, which resulted in the arrest of man and woman, the release of the man and the detention of the woman, followed | by the persistent efforts of the reporter to learn from the policeman why he followed such procedure. The climax to the dialogue went something like this, as we recall it: Say" said the policeman, who the hell is running this station?" "Well, if you think you are, i" was the comeback, elet me tell you you are making a - poor job Of it." Lots of profane words. Fellow citizens, is it not to be re- 1 gretted that such great forces in pub lie life should clash, and if they must clash, that they should use such dis courteous language at each other? The editors, owners, and publishers of the 1 Cancels Back are humiliated over this wretched condition of affairs. But mere words will get us nowhere. In order that we may lend our aid toward the eradication of this evil, the Camers Back presents herewith what it believes ought to serve as guide or standard of conduct to be followed by the police and representatives of the press when they meet in official capacities. We will assume that the police reporter is making heat and has just entered the police station to get the news Of the day. The conversation transpiring be- tween the desk sergeant and the re- porter is like this:
 Reporter-Good evening, Sergeant, and how are you this evening?
 Sergeant (rising quick1y) An, good evening, Press. Have a chair, will you? No, no, take this one; that one is too hard. I'm fine. Dandy sort of an eve ming, isn't it? And how are you this morning? Lots of good news so far?
 R. To the contrary, sergeant, news is very slow. Has anything transpired in the office here? (Observe, if you will, the fine distinction between this form of question and the usual form of 'Wat's stirrin' tonight?").
 Swell not very much. There was little
 R-Pardon the interruption, Serg, but I understand you are holding a woman here for
 1 S.-Excuse me, Press, but must cor rect you. She is lady. l R.-Yes, yes, how careless of me. You are holding lady here in connec- tion with that shooting last night?
 S.-What divining individual you are. hadn't proposed to let you in on the case until later. But now that you know. let us step into my private of flee and I'll tell you all about it and show you some of the evidence. The two remain in the sergealit's of flee for some minutes.
 And now" said the reporter ss they return, "now that you have given me the facts, let me talk to the wo-- lady, will you?"
 S.-To be sure, with pleasure Boy tell the lookup to bring in Miss Jingle. (Boy returns with the news that Miss Jingle would rather not.)
 S.-Ah, I fear the lady is indisposed. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to call again.
 R.-Well we'll Too bad Better luck next time. But must be on my way Good night, sergeant.
 S.-Ta-ta. And drop in again to see us. will you? Here, have cigar before you go.