The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-27
WHOM PUBLICITY HURTS

public opinion whom that publicity and that expression place on the de- fensive. When official record invites criticism or when there is effort to conceal from the people essential facts concerning the public's business, the cry of those attacked or exposed Is that the newspapers are the cause of it. One might as we'll say that the court which convicts of crime is the cause of 1t. Those who fear publicity are the very ones upon whom the pub lie welfare demands that the full light of relentless publicity shall be thrown.
 The legislature, the governor of Ala bama and the officials connected with the convict department of this state unite in decrying the publicity and criticism that has been directed upon the joint legislative, executive and ad- ministrative policy with respect to tke handling and leasing of convicts. Let the public not. allow it's vision be ob- scured by any such attempt to escape responsibility by placing the blame upon the fact that the newspapers have done their duty by laying bare sus- picious situation in a department of their government. Let the people not forget that, not only the newspapers, but also the regularly constituted cnTrts If tha e+afa have Joo~,oJ +Lo convict camps an urgent subject for inquiry. Let the people not forget that the same governor who cries out against the newspapers is also making every possible endeavor to block court investigation of the convict-lease camps. Let the people not forget that the very legislature, which by resolu- tion condemned the publicity that ex. posed it's record, is responsible for the continuation of the system of leasing conyicts against which the public decency of this state has vainly protested. If there is any blame, it rests not upon those who tell the facts, but upon those who commit those facts.
 When that legislative resolution de- crying publicity was passed in the house, only one member, Vincent Kill born of Mobile, had the vision and courage to rise in that body and de- clare that the newspapers have tie right to criticise public officials and to publish information. MT. Kilborn would probably add that they not only have that right, but that it is specifi- cally granted them by the constitution of the United States and by the cons, stitution of Alabama. Yet, during the week set aside for the observance of and renewed acquaintance with that constitution, the legislature of Ala bama went on record as opposed to that constitutional right when it was operating to dismay the legislature and public officials who were in the wrong.
 This situation is clearly, logically and forcefully set forth by the Mobile Register as follows:
 idL CAduSG Ol the leR1SlaCuIoS
 resolution which pledges to the
 governor and to the convict de-
 partment "the support of the en-
 tire state, moral and financial,
 in the upholding of the dignity of
 the governors office and respect
 for law" is crowning piece of
 absurdity. The dignity of the
 governors office and respect for
 ar nt MA
 lessened the dignity of the gov
 ernor's office unless the governor
 himself has done so by attempted
 interference with legal processes
 in Jefferson county; and no one
 has threatened or in any way
 shown any disrespect for law.
 The legislators quite mistake the
 issue, and also their own office
 and authority. The legislators
 are sent to Montgomery solely to
 make the laws. They have not
 the slightest warrant to pledge
 the people of Alabama to any
 thing other than relates to law
 making. The spectacle of the
 legislature pledging support of
 the "entire state, moral and
 financial" to the support of the
 governor and to approval of the
 legislatures course in relation to
 the convict lease system would
 be laughable if it were not so
 grave reflection upon the in-
 telligence of that body.
 The newspapers are not always in harmony with the acts of public bodies and officials, but they are constantly striving to protect the public welfare, and they can best do this by their right arm of publicity with respect to public acts and matters that should be of public record. It is that right arm that those public officials, who do not put the public welfare first, fear and hate. When such persons cry out upon publicity, the press knows that it has played the light upon the proper spot.