Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-22

E.EEG n an editorial = nS1uCQ MN 1iApS . A"oSS
Talk, the Chicago TriLsne delivers itself of a few
remarks concerning Senator McCumber's recent at
tack on the newspapers of the country as being IN
lAuenced in their attitude on the tariff bill by the
desire of their large advertising customers tor tree
trade. The Tribune's reference to North Dakota
las a "semibolshevist" state is extreme. and we be-
llieve that in time the Tribune will find that 1t IS un..
warranted, although the activities of certain political
headers in this state, and the acqulescence OF many
lof the people of the state in those activities, the real
hquuality of which has been irnperfcctly understood,
may be held to afford an outsider some basis tor the
characterization In it's discussion of the attitude
tof the politician toward the newspaper the Tribune
sutters Some wholesome truths. The Tribune says:
"Moved by newspaper opposition to certain Tea
Hures of his tariff bill, Senator McCumber OF North
Dakota, in lieu. of. argument. delivered himself of a
few choice remarks concerning the great metropoll-
tan newspapers.of the country. If the great de-
APARTMENT stores do not own-stock in those papers,
Hhey are their customers. andtthrough.the advertis-
ing medium. control the policy'of those papers, he.
said. These papers have gradually become their
Imouthpieces in favor Of practically free trade
If McCumber spoke as the representative of the
semi-bolshevist state Of North Dakota, we could af-
Ford to ignore him. If he spoke as Republican lead
er of the United States senate, he should be taken
TO task.
"Such a blanket Indictment of newspapers could
Iproced only from Grass ignorance, peevishness, or
a selfish and mean desire to bellttle and degrade
"a great American institution which might be tenn
|porarily interfering with his purposes. AS an argu-
ment his statement sounds more like the emmissions
of an inmate Of a flop house than the considered
Eutterance of the chairman of the finance committee
lof the senate.
THAT is not always the attitude of Senator Nc
Cumber, or of his associates. Every morning. we
venture to say, he turns to some one of the news
papers, which he denounces SO loosely, to get the
news Of his state, his country and the world. He
accepts this news as fact, which it is, and bases his
Thought upon it He does not discount it all as re-
lflectng department store influence. In a political
campaign he will not discount the paper which sup
Iports him on the ground that it is lying and misrep-
Presenting for the profit he can give it. On other
occasions he will appeal to newspapers to take the
Head in constructive enterprises, not for a gratuity
but for the general welfare. And they will do it.
Occasions will arise, as they have arisen, when even
tthe senate ofthe United States will look to the news
papers or a newspaper for information which even
that augustebody could obtain from no other source,
las insthe case when The Tribune. gave the senate its
FIRST copy of the Versailles treaty.
4Unfortunately.fof the newspapers of his own
Estate, it will be ssurnedsrthat3hi knowledge of the
~tcohduct of newspaperssissderived from them, with
(which he might be expected to:have the closest &c.
j quaintance. When shcscomes up for reelection, if
the North Dakota press recalls his utterances on this
tpont and.questions.his ability to represent the state
when he.induigcs sinasuch maunderings, he probably
Twill make similar charges. But. then, instead Of at
Fributing 'theapohcy to departnent stores, he will
tattributes it-to tthercrooked influence of his political
rivals.