The Washington times., 1929-12-03
EDITOR Fl AY 8
POLICE, LAUDS
REPORTERS
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'Sb ~HH |bbS
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assume the roles of sleuths to get
the information which is neces-
sary to enlighten or to protect
others.
Because a reporter tells the
truth about people or things he
frequently becomes the object of
suspicion among those who are
hit" An automobile accident,
for instance, is news which be-
longs to the public. If there are
features about it which those in
volved would fain have over
looked, but which are vital and
important parts of the story, the
participants regard a reporters
efforts as objectionable intru-
sion.
Between Two Fires
The same individuals who uti.
lie the services of a reporter
when they desire publicity for pet
undertakings, warmly welcoming
them as friends, at once regard
the newspaper man as an enemy
when he seeks information Of
different but legitimate form.
Sometimes the loyal reporter
finds himself between two fires.
Such was the case of three men
Of The Washington Cd. c.
Times, who were found guilty OF
contempt Of court and sentenced
to As days in Jail because they
refused to give the names of the
bootleggers from whom they had
secured information as the basis
Of news articles which these re-
porters had written for theil
papers.
The object was to acquaint the
public with conditions which
showed the apathy or wanton dis
regard of Federal officials in the
matter of enforcing prohibition in
the Nations Capital.
Apparently these reporters had
given their word to the bootleg
gers that their identity would not
be revealed. Without such infor-
nation they could not have pre-,
;1nted the matter in such form as
would compel the attention of
the public.
Reporters Justified
1t must be admitted that such
plan as that employed by the
Washington reporters has ele-
ments Of danger, but the peculiar
situation facing them demanded
the action they took. After Civ.
ing their word to the informantS
they could not with any decency,
go back on it.
Reading between the lines. it Is
obvious that officialdom in Wash
ING had ignored allegations con-
corning prohibition enforcement.
The court resented the claims
made by the newspaper and de-
manded that the reporters should
divulge the names of those giving
information.
When the court found these
men guilty Of contempt of court
and sentenced them to Jail it did
more than punish the reporters.
1t did not take into consideration
the fact that all people cannot be
fooled all the time.
II reporters could get the in
formation about "SpeakeaSieS" the
police could have gotten it. What
the reporters knew, the police
knew. If the powers that be kept
the police in leash, the reporters
were not to blame.
If tn law violators were pro
tected by the reporters it was be-
cause the political lords had pre-
vented the ferriting process which
should have been the province Of
the police.
When judicial and police au,
thOritieS refuse to cooperate;
when they take advantage of
every turn of the technicalities
of the law and the might of par
tiSan politics; when they make
farce of law enforcement, un.
toward methods must sometimes
be resorted to in the effort 20 pro.
tect the public as a whole in
stead of the favored few.
If appeals sustain the verdict
Of the court. the Washington re-
pOrterS will be the SCapegoatS
upon whom is placed burdens
which rightly belong on the
backs of others.