The Pensacola journal., 1920-02-20
sINsIDIoUs PROPAGANDA .


In recent issue the PaIatka. News takes both The
Journal and The News of Pensacola to task for the
publication of what that newspaper chooses to term
InsdioEs propaganda"
The Pe1atka News says: During the war we heard
much of propaganda, especially Of the German va
riety We don't hear much OF 1t now but it is here
in its NEST :sidous form
RecenEy The News called attention to some
correspondence which comes out Of Washing
ton. The Pensacola Journal printed some of this
insiduous stuff undermining the prestige Of the ad-
ministration Under the head of liberalism and
Americanism" the Pensacola News prints editorial
which eminated from the same source
The Pensacola News surely does not believe that
liberal thought is penalized in America today" or
that the nation is hysterical and its hystera is fed
by fanatica jEgoes and crafty politicians" The
News says in one paragraph:
If all the cast coming under the general heads
given above could be spread before the people, there
is little doubt Of their amzement. view that could
take in the whole panorama of espionage and repres-
sion now so common and attributable alike to gov
ernment and public might give the observer the i'm
preston that he gazing upon Russia under the
czars.'
The Journal would be glad to have the Paatka
News to name the date of the publication of the ar
cle appearing in The Journal, and the name of the
writer service under which it appeared. Every
article which appears in The Journal from Wash
ington is from an accredited Washington CORE
spondent, the Associated Press is sent in to this
newspaper by the Newspaper Enterprise Association,
and is published under the name Of its author.
As for What appears in the Evening News, The
Journal is in no way concerned. The News is per-
fcctly capable of fighting its own battles but we
would call attention to the fact that the Palatka
News has quoted only part of the editorial and so
gives an unfair impression. The editorial in ques-
ton may not meet with the yeyvs OF The Journal or
the Palatka. News, but in these days of free press
we do not know what recourse We can take. Every
editor has the right to publish his own views, just
so long they are not seditious.
As to The Journal this newspaper confines its edi-
toral policies to its editorial page. The Journal is
newspaper not political organ. 1t has never con-
sdered that it is the function Of any newspaper to
impel other to itsrown views Those views are
stated fearlessly its editorial page but they deal
rather with principles than parties rather with poll
cies than politicians
The Palatka News declares that The Journal has
printed insiduous stuff undermining the pres
tige Of the administration" The Journal challenges
the Palatka News to prove that assertion.
The Journal expects to continue to publish the
news as it comes from Washington. The Journal
does not intend to publish anything knowingly from
any source which Will undermine the administra-
tion The Journal gives way to publication in the
United States in its loyal support the adminstra-
ton, and Of President Wilson and his policies
throughout and since the war.
If publishing STORIES or even criticism of the
in the columns of the newspapers of
this country. may be construed as "insidious I'M
iermining of the prestige of the administration" then
,Ve say, in all reverence: God help the admnistra-
tion!'
For some reason which The Journal is unable to
fathom, the Palatka News seems to take a keen in
erest in Pensacola and its newspapers. and is con-
5tany crtcsing this city and the press of this CITY,
The Journal finds much of value in the Palatka
News, it is ably edited and is of the favorites
among our exchanges. But when the Palatka News
to tell Pensacola no VITO get out of the
road, it did recently in antiPensacola edi-
orias in regard to the Florida Purchase Centennial
and when it undertakes to dictate to the press of
Pensacola what they shall shall not publish our
advice to that publication is to confine its energies
10 its own town and newspaper. Over her eve have
all we can do to build Pensacola without knocking
Palatka and to edit our own newspaper without at
tempting to edit the rest Of the state exchanges.