The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-17
A Free Press

ITIH is Constitution week. various SPEAK
/ ers are addressing the public on our
fundamental law and the bill of rights that was
intended to give us the privileges of life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness The pur-
pose of the week is to refresh our memories
and recharge in us the spirit that was in our
forefathers
While public men are discussing other
phases of the Constitution let us consider but
one phase here-the one that guarantees free
dom of the press-the one that gives news
papers the indisputable right to discuss public
questions in public way, with accountability
in broad sense to only one court-the court
that is the public.
We shall discuss the question from the
viewpoint of the independent newspaper that
owes tribute to no party and accepts reward
from no party; that carries the banner of no
clique; that speaks for the whole people rather
than for mere faction of the people
The independent newspaper has become
the auditor of public conduct, forever checking
public accounts and demanding truthful public
accountings of public affairs.
It speaks for the public because there is
none else to speak No other voice is strong
enough to be heard above the din in the market
place that is the city. 1t speaks not without
authority The good will of it's readers who
stand behind it year after year and generation
after generation is its authority.
Without courageous newspapers that dare
to say what they ought to say systems of gov
eminent would become the tools of political
dictators, and autocracy would rule the land.
That portion Of the Constitution known as
the bill of rights guarantees certain freedoms
of thought and conduct, but without free
press there would be no medium powerful
enough to preserve those rights against the on
slaughts of the demagog and the traitor to
public welbeing.
The free press of this city, this state this
nation, is watchdog that stands on guard day
and night 1t never rests 1t never grows
tired It's representatives fall in step with men
and women who aspire to high places in the
councils of the people. 1t separates the weak
from the strong, the honorable from the cor
rupt, the decent from the unclean, the faithful
from the unfathful
The road to fame is lighted by the torch
Of publicity. Those who traverse it to the end
do so because they worthy to stand in the
light Those who fall by the way owe their
failure to the fact that their deeds cannot bear
the glare of the calcium.
The free press is not interested in WHO
men and women who seek to enlist in public
service. 1t is tremendously interested in
WHAT they are, in what they have done, in
what they are capable of doing, in their in
stincts their dreams, their hopes in behalf Of
public welfare.
How could you choose with intelligence
your public stewards with no free press to
check back on the records of those who seek
your vote?
How could you know when your public
servants were betraying your confidence if
newspapers were not free to tell you the truth
about their conducts
Who could prevent the corrupt politician
from entrenching himself and perpetuating
himself in Office if newspapers were denied the
right to reveal his treason9
The guarantees of freedom would be
empty indeed, Mr.. Citizen, were it not for the
fact that free press stands on guard twenty
four hours of the day and night to prevent in
vason of your rights.
Since the newspaper is the handiwork Of
men and women and since it is the fastest NOV
ing institution in the world, it makes it's share
of mistakes. But remember this, on this Con-
stitution week; The free press it's errors and
its shortcomings notwithstanding, is the per-
sonifed human engine of justice that preserves
for you coveted privileges, dreams of which
brought our forefathers from the old world
and caused them, when freedom was in sight
to kneel in thanksgiving at Plymouth Rock.