The sun., 1919-10-30
GOVERNOR ASKS
CITIZENS TO ACT
HEARSTCURB
Resolutions Adopted by
Overflow Audience at
Carnegie Hall.
HE CASTIGATES EDITOR
Reads Anonymous Letter
Showing Papers Inspire
Lust to Kill.
HE CASTIGATES EDITOR

Attacking William Randolph Hearst
as liar" and a "slanderer" Gov. AL
fred E. Smith last night appealed to
the people to organize a committee to
protect public servants from his ire
sponsible methods of misrepresenta-
ton in his newspapers.
An audience to which he spoke in
Carnegie Hall and which overflowed
Into the street unanimously passed
resolutions read by the Governor him
self to bring about such a movement
against the Hearst papers.
The Governor charged that the
editor was sowing seeds OF disorder
and discomfort to serve his own selfish
purposes. He declared he could think
OF no more contemplate or despicable
man than one who would exploit the
poor for his own ends.
Reading an anonymous letter, which
he said was the only one OF 5000 re-
ceived which did not commend him
for the attack he made on Hearst at
the Astor Hotel ten days ago, he said
he would not have paid any attention
to'it except that 1t contained verbatim
a number Of headlines from the Hearst
newspapers. 1t attacked the Presi-
dent and the Governor and ended:
THE other fellow is dying already, and
you'll get yours"
Il will defy him (Hearst) to mention
one crooked act that 1 ever performed
in public or private nfe." declared the
Governor.
From the beginning the Governor had
the audience with him. They applauded
generously and frequently responded in
light vein to his satirical salliey. From
start to finish he kept his temper we'll
In check, but 1t was evident that he was
in deadly earnest
ResoIution. Adopted.
The resolutions which were adopted
as the climax of the meeting were:
l. Whereas we hold the principle
to be self-evident that criticism OF
public officials Is the essential right
and duty of free press in a free
country.
2. That abuse OF this right through
wilful Misrepresentation of the pol
icies and acts OF public servants Is
inimical to the republic.
8. That the distortion of news
columns to serve a policy of hate,
sander and evil libel is un-
scrupulous Journalism.
4. That public servants, irrespec-
tive OF their political allegiance,
should be protected against such foul
play on the part of a rich newspaper
publisher who exercises II without
responsibility
8, That William Randolph Hearst
has pursued a career OF yellow Jour
nalism In which wflful misrepresen-
tation OF policies, perversion OF facts,
distortion OF the truth to suit his
hate and se'f-will have been his con-
spicuous characteristics.
6. That William Randolph Hearst
has been tried by public opinion and
been found wanting as a truly loyal
American in one OF our nations most
critical hours
T. That his vituperation, slander
and fslsehood directed against some
OF our ablest and most devoted public
servants. living and dead, among
whom may be mentioned Mckinley, |
Theodore Roosevelt. Woodrow Wilson
William ]. Gaynor, John PurToy |
Mitchell and Alfred f. Smith. have
violated every principle of Justice and
fair dealing and tended to discourage
disinterested public servants.
8. That the only recourse open to
a public servant Is to meet his oppo-
nent in public debate, which William
Randolph Hearst has refused to do.
Therefore. be II resolved, That a
committee OF 1000 representative cit
isens be appointed, irrespective Of
party allegiance, TO be known as the |
Citizens Fair Play Committee, whose
function II shall he to frame a sound
public opinion directed against tho |
ins'dious and disntegrating opinion
OF his journals, and to protect public
servants and citizens generally from
his irresponsible methods OF misrep-
resentati ton and slander through the
most effective methods It can see Mt
to employ.