The Glenwood post., 1923-07-19
THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS


The right of the crcise public and to uncov
roennes in high places and rebue political intrigue has been
upheld by Governor Hnke of New Mexico pardon of Carl
o. Maee editor of the New Mexican State Tribune who was last
week sent prison after being convicted charge criminal
libel OF supreme court justice and charge of contempt of dis
trct Judge
Commenting his action overrun court sentence and
setting Magee free Governor Hne that the indictment
which Magee tried for libel obtained to the
knowledge or consent of the supposed have ed
and that the trial held district where Parker nor
agee lived and that the bringing of Magee Seemed to
be conspiracy and more of persecution prosecution" He
further stated that the contempt against age per-
secton the sentence harsh and beyond the whole
ceeding blot upon the of New Mexico
The right of free speech pen are regarded as sacred
America and 1t is proper that this should be right
should not descend point where might construed as license
to any person who happens to be editor heap vile
abuse upon another Or to utter print without
that will cause mental pain another other words
does not justify editor being character assassin
Matters OF news and of public given publicity
even though to do so and oftemes doe pain ear
assnt and Illumination the involved But the
public welfare of far greater Importance than individual pride or
interest and the editor who suns the truth and to
rottenne and graft when the best interests the community will
be benefited by such unworthy the high calling he
espoes and usually regarded enemy to the community IN
which he poses leader.
On the other hand the editor who prostitutes high pofes-
sion and beles his calling by unseemy abuse eveed at those who
do not agree with him. against has some personal or
political grievance in which community is not inteesteds
an editor unworthy of the title should be branded as an
10 the community instead of
IS able and should be willing for the community than ,,v
other person.
To critcse in public authority not libel such crit,
csn be confined to language to take
issue with Others with those in high
certain line OF action which there honest difference of
oPo is not libel to dissatisfaction law and to adj
vocae its repeal to oppose the passage contemplated law
and to state ones for opposition all of these are roper
done IN proper manner and all within legitimate prov
nce OF the newspaper and the editor declare the truth
upon these matters is often greater to his COM
munlty than he who for pocy sake along the line of
least resistance and paate condone those acts
and death
Loyalty to country and to the colnys laws should be the
policy OF the editor and in the part he shall the enforcement
OF that policy he must of necessity anagonize who are in
authority and who will his criticism even to the extent some
times OF causing his charge But he should strike
and spare not He should critce where the conditions
muniy such demand criticism he should likewise be
tar charitable and conservative refusing allow personal po
lc differences to furnish the basis for editorial criticism that will
and should be construed libelous
he libel laws OF
tendency seriously handicap the conscientious editor at
tempt toward bringing about community beement minimizing
they do his efforts toward those conditions which better
ernnent and editor has been the victim tyranny
and oppression when he reality builder blessing the
community he was seeking to