The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1925-05-15
Who is Discredting the Chicago Tribune?

Under the heading of prohibition and Intolerance"
the Chicago Tribune May 10 printed the following
part OF long editorial against prohibition and those
who support the laws against Intoxicating liquor:
"Our intelligent readers, such differ emphat-
icaly from views prohibitonsm, not likely
10, and not in fact showing disposition to forget
the Trbunes record in the support and often the
initiation, of good causes.
But the Anti-Saloon League bosses and other
tremists show the OF their minds if not
unscrupuousness OF conscience in trying dscredit
the influence OF the Tribune fundamentally that it
not aid the many OF importance which it
is devoted"
1t probably not the intention of the Tribune edi-
toria writer admit by inference that his newspapers
defense OF the liquor traffic is in behalf OF bad
when he referred to the Trbune's support and often
initiation OF good causes" Whatever the number
OF good causes the Tribune has supported it not be
denied that its influence has been very much dscredted
The Tribunes editors and would hudder if they
could realize how deeply dscredited is the influence of
the paper which boasts record reaching back through
three generations
When the late Senator Mccormick, as candidate
for reelection the United States Senate down
III defeat the Tribune editorially admitted that its
attitude had contributed to this result although SEN
ator Mccormick personally and politically dry.
The Tribune admitted and deplored the fact that Sena
Mccormick associated with the Tribune in the pub
lie mind made to suffer because of the Tribunes
attitude relative to prohibition enforcement
But the depth of public disrespect for Tribune edi-
torals, particularly prohibition, hardly be re-
allied by those responsible. In a legislative body
prominent law maker dry, recently referred to the
support of the Tribune liability rather than asset
10 any public man any public An interna-
tonally famous speaker addressing large public gath
ering made occasional references to the Tribune and
each greeted with derisive laughter. A high
school audience 200 miles away from Chicago unms-
takably evidenced their low opinion of Tribune cid
forals. particularly on prohibition
Public speakers throughout Illinois and surrounding
will testify that intelligent people, such those
referred to in the Tribune editorial have little faith and
give little credit to Tribune editorial utterances partcu
lary prohibition. And of is inevitable that
if newspaper is found unreliable in its discussion of
topic its other subjects likely be
questioned.
The Tribune is right when suggests that its editorial
influence is being fundamentally dscredited. But it is
far from right when it charges that the Anti-Saloon
League is responsible. The Tribune has only itself to
blame if the people have lost faith in its editorials. The
Tribune is discreditng itself in its own columns.
Not only have Tribune editorial writer's kept up
attack against prohibition cleverly designed
arouse ennlity towards the law and sympathy with law
breakers but practically every other department of the
Tribune has violated the rules OF ethics and decency and
patriotism far prohibition is concerned Tribune
headline writer's sneeringy refer representatives of
the United States government enforcing constitutional
law "snoopers' Tribune cartoonists their tai
to glorify liquor awlessness and prejudice
against respect for law. Tribune special writers stud
ously select facts and statistics that be used to put
prohibition in unfavorable light and shrewd1y omit
and statistics that would give the full about
prohibition and its enforcement.
On the day following its complaint relative to dscred-
tied influence the Tribune printed an editorial headed
41-f-4