Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-11
IMMUNITY FROM PUBLICITY.


Danger of publicity is one of the greatest deter
rents against improper conduct After conscience has
lost its grip on the individual fear Of discovery and
publicity is about the only restraint left.
1t becomes of vital consequence to community
therefore that the avenues of legitimate publicity
shall not be closed. But they have been closed in
New Mexico for many years. The political and eco
nomic conduct of the powers which be- in New
Mexico has been favored with immunity against pub
lefty AS a result the people have not known the
facts at all, else public opinion has never been
crystalized to the point of compelling correction
This has eventuated in all manner of unconscionabc
practices.
Improper practices have been INDUCED so long
in New Mexico that those reaping the benefits actu
ally have come to believe themselves having vest
ed rights" in these practices and they regard
interloper and arch enemy. any one who dares to
lift voice against further indulgence and to demand
correction.
Odd psychology develops out of this situation. For
instance, the Journals owed the First Nation
al Bank some money He knew of certain facts In
connection with Holbrook bank failure which We're
excellent and legitimate BY the gentle art of
delicate intimation. he made to know that his
paper would be called for payment il he carried
the story Feeling that to survive in order to serve
the people in the future important than to
commit suicide for the sake of this story the Journal
RETAINED from mentioning it.
Now, when free to publish what we please
by reason Of the banks attitude toward u.s. we tell
a tiny part of the story. At the bank charges
that the publication is malicious 1t the repression
of the facts at the time which malicious If any
thing To tell the public now what it was entitled
to know then, but which concealed by mailed
fist inside velvet glove is but to correct wrong.
Yet, SO accustomed has the bank become to immtI-
nifty from publicity because of its power that it
CARDS telling the truth about matter Of public
70 he mali md oDa6lV m
hurt them.
If the truth hurts them, they should be hurt
until they mend their ways. So peculiar is their
psychology that they do not reason that they hurt
themselves by their improper acts They believe that
hurt them by telling of those acts
The plain facts that copper riveted
pressor of publicity has been in operation in New
Mexico for many years. The people have not had the
fcats: The very who were grating off the public
were "touted" in the newspapers New Mexco's
biggest and greatest public benefactors Certain
banks and fnancers were immune from all publicity
which they did not wish.
In this way very powerful combinations were built
up which became strong enough to crush or whip
into subsection any who showed any signs of
getting the publicity fence into the big pasture
where the people were. 1t has worked splenddly in
the past.
The task has grown less easy in the past year.
The Journal has insisted upon talking and telling the
public lot of things We frankly admit that there
is much which should be told of which we have said
nothing. We have not felt strong enough to survive
the onslaught the revelations would bring us.
Libel SUITS filed to their faces, the means
usually resorted to in such That and finding
where the poor newspaper guy has loan which
be called. We have hazarded both and exper-
fenced both. where the cause vital enough to
warrant It.
What the Journal has felt it imperative to say
for the public good, 1t has said Some things which
would make its load too heavy to carry, it has kept
in Its ammunition dump But it has msled the
public.
The Journal prays for the day when its popular
support will be great that it will be left at the
mercy Of institution. AS the people help US
grow stronger you better.
The rich and powerful should not be able to pro-
cure immunity from publicity which poor man
not obtain under like circumstances.