Arizona republican., 1921-12-01
What Is A Profession?


Mr. Philip r.. Dillon the current Editor and
Publisher" holds the decision of United States
supreme court last month in the Elwe to
cluce journalism from the rank of the professions
and he raises the question whether something should
not be done about it, whether journalism
have code Of its and he asks shall journalism
have supreme court?"
From what know of the Elwell do
not think that the status of journalism in respect of
so-caned professions was raised in the pleadngs
or disposed of in the decision. We do not believe
either that the status of Journalism in respect of the
professions could have been fixed by the if it
had attempted to do so, any than the status
Of redhaired people in respect of society could be
50 fixed.
Hector Ewell, managing editor of the Mil
waukee News, editor of the Chicago American
in which he caused permitted to be published
statement that Dr. William H. Sage. then head of
the Narcotic Squad, was be indicted by grand
jury. The truth Of this statement not questioned
but the courts became curious to the of
Elwers information.
E,wen refused divulge it the ground that
he had legal right to keep that secret and that he
was moreover duty bound since the infor-
nation given to him in confidence. This right
he believed to be identical with that of the priest
the doctor the lawyer, the military officer and the
teacher, these five being recognized members of
legally distinctive professions But the court took
q different view fined Elwel $500 with an alter
native Of a Jail sentence This Judgment finally
affirmed by the highest court and Mr.. Dillon says:
Reduced to its simplest terms, the United states
supreme has declared that journalism is not
profession in the that the word is used to
distinguish those officially licensed to
in the work the church. the law courts. the army
in the practice of healing and in teaching
But is that right the basis of profession? A
profession is calling in which one must be equipped
with some special knowledge distinct from agri-
culture commerce. finance the trades. There
first so-called learned professions of the
olozy the law and medicine Then there others,
including architect the technical engineer
and many others. distinguishing these profess
sscns from occupations. trades etc. thought is
taken of any legal rights that members of one may
have that do not apparetain to members Of another
To deny right to members of calling is not
to reverse the dictionary and exclude that calling
from the professions"
Then, again. the privilege of secrecy which the
priest or the lawyer enjoys is quite different from
that which the journalist would hold. The priest and
the lawyer keep the which the client or the
parishioner dvulges for his material benefit in the
one case and for good of his soul in the other
The doctor not only cannot be compelled to divulge
the secret client but in states he is alb
xoutely forbidden dvuge it. In the last session of
our legislature in this respect amend
ed that the physician might testify as to things OF
which he had been previously forbidden to speak.
None of these, the priest, the lawyer and the
vsican are beneficiaries of the privilege which they
enjoy These privileges only for the benefit OF
the parishioner, the patient and the client The jour-
nzlist on the other hand is the beneficiary of the
secret which is confided to him and which, II
is given him for publication, is not secret There
Is nothing of less value a newspaper man than
secret that must be maintained.
II IS the source of information that the jour-
.lis. would guard and does well to guard when
ne can But he cannot guard it when the publication
=, the information is contrary to public policy And
certainly the publication OF the secrets of the grand
sury room. the announcement in advance OF the
intentions of the grand jury is contrary to pubic
policy
We are as jealous of the privileges of the jour
.listic profession need be- but we realize that 1t
nav be subjected some regulation and restraint
short of the destruction of free press
for Is Old Job