The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-04-01

selected Its candidate or affiliated with
its party and won or lost with the can
didate or the party. Politics then were
the sole purpose of the press. Now
the newspaper is a business insttu-
tion, part Of the stock in trade of
which Is the best suggestive thought
it can supply TO the people as editorial.
cases rooted in tradition, refuses to
tie Itself unequivocally to any party
or candidate. If il or he Is right as
the press sees the right, it supports
one or both But the press no longer
follows party or candidate whittier
they would lead. If the people are
seeking a candidate the press does
not hesitate out of its larger opportu
mites and broader survey, to aid, to
lead, to inspire. But the obligation is
different where candidates are seeking
the people, especially in primaries
where the result is only a limitation
upon several choices and support is
merely a preference.
The people depend upon the press
for the facts upon which to base its
judgment It requires the business ad-
vertsement to inform it of trade op-
portunities. II requires news to sup
ply II with knowledge. 1t expects edi-
torial comment to enlighten and broad,
en- its understanding on matters Of
public interest. In political campaigns
it emphatically demands information
concerning the issues and the candi-
ton shall be at first hand. 1t requires
the candidates to submit their policies
and purposes for inspection, investiga-
ton and determination. With all the
fiimsy attempts to make political pub
licity without the press, the people
demand that the regular channels Of
information be used. Campaign pub
licity pamphlets published by the
state do not answer the purpose. Post
ers and like methods have failed. But
newspaper publicity reaches the read
ing and thinking public and the adver-
tising columns remove any danger Of
the matter having been colored or
trimmed or modified to suit the views
Of the paper itself. The editorial and
the advertising columns are complete
ly divorced. There is not even room
for suspicion Of taint when the adver-
tising columns speak. That is why
the press is more respected when It
spoke under the old time policy. 1t
may be selfish but the press is unable
to see that it as business institution
should assume the burden Of carrying
the candidate TO the people. 1t is will
ing to carry the people to the candi
date when they so desire, but there
Is difference in principle in the two
policies. The former Is serving the
ambitions of the individual. The lat
ter is serving the interests of the
public.
Newspaper advertising space costs
money. 1t must be used generously if
all the people are reached. Such ad-
vertisng is not corruption Of the cleo
torate unless information for the cleo
torate is corruption. Travelling and
hotel expenses for speakers are high.
Yet the payment of these expenses
are not corruptive of the voters, un-
less the information derived from the
speakers is corruption These things
must be considered in determining
whether money has been corruptly used
in an election. In Michigan the law
set the limit of expenditures. It was
not for Senator Newberry to say the
limit was too low, but it became his
duty as candidate to obey the law
by keeping his expenditures within its
limitations. Therein lies the germ of
his crime. The country needs no hectic
Grafton from Senator Borah to keep
1t from political corruption. The over
whelming majority of the voters are
as incorruptible as the Idaho senator.
They are as quick to resent attempts
to influence their judgment by coin
as he is to imply they are willing,