Evening journal., 1920-01-17
DEcEIvING THE PUBLIC

A PACIFIC COAST paper, which is served by well
known press service under date Of December
29h article from that service the lead Of which reads
as follows:
Reservations to the peace treaty which will meet
the views OF the majority Of the Democrats as well as
the mild reseryatlonists' in the Republican ranks
have been decided upon. according to members OF the
mild reseryatonsts group of Senator's"
This statement was an absolute falsehood and was
made without particle Of foundation, In fact
Il the vaporng Of irresponsible press reporter
whose Instructions doubt prepare his articles
that they would conform with the staggering amount
OF propaganda which is being put forward by the pro-
( pcnens Of the league of nations.
Ills statement but among thousands Of equIvoca
statements by equally irresponsible reporters assigned
to cover legislative proceedings and the question arises
Why these reporters permitted to make such state
ments with impunity?
Why not the reporters Of legislative proceedings held
to some measure Of accountability for the copy" which
they send out and which more or less influence
on the minds Of the reading public?
When reporter assigned to cover the White House,
the government departments the author Of fraudu-
lent statements, he be disciplined by denying him
cess to the President the head Of department. or by
Withholding from the paper which he represents II
he persists in his Misrepresentation and his paper
tinues to employ him.
When Pershng invaded Mexico the press representatives
who accompanied the expedition permitted by the
War Department to do So only after they had filed bond
to observe the structures Of the censor and the
New York World representative broke faith with the War
Department by eyadlng the censorship, his bond was
forfeited and he summarly recalled the border
There little excuse for censorship, but having
one the department took this means OF making u eec-
tice.
Each press service has or reporters assigned
TO legislative work. and these reporters have the privilege
of the press galleries of the Senate and the House
About i've seats the floor the House are assigned
TO services. while "the speaker may admit TO the
oor under such regulations may prescribe one ad-
ditional representative Of each press association"
de- admission to the press galleries OF the
Senate House. must stale what press organizations they
represents they must not be interested IN any claims
pending before Congress the departments they must
not be the employ Of any Government exchange
other organizaon be bona Ode correspond
Of reputable standing their business who repres
ent daily newspapers newspaper associations requiring
teiegraphic service"
So far as accountability for statements is concerned the
galleries might be pac with the k Of Ananias MUNICH
ausen Pecsni Joseph Surface Cagliostro George Cree
and Judas scarot each vleng with the other befud
ding and msinformng the public. and nothing apprs
bend from the rules governing their gallery privilege
To permit the public to be deceived by deliberate mis-
Information is highly improper
To permit the bearing false witness against the repre-
sentaves Of the people in Congress, with lmpunity, is
equally
TO hold those privileged enter the press galleries
accountability for their writings would strengthen
The morale Of the journalistic body which, as a whole
possesses high order OF integrity and impartality
rule requiring te surrender Of the gallery privilege by
found TO be habuay unreliable his reports Of pro-
ceedings might prove salutary.