The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-05
On This
Occasion
Just q few thoughts by the Editor
on things Material and Immaterial.

The U. 8. Supreme Court on Mon
day by five to four decision declared
unconstitutionl the Minnesota gag
law" under whose provisions weekly
scandal sheet in Minneapolis was sup
pressed. The gag law" was passed In
1925 for the suppression OF a publlca-
ton held to be malicious, scandalous
or defamatory. Under this act the
Saturday Press was permanently en-
joined from publication by a state
court and the supreme court upheld
the decision. An appeal to the U. D
supreme court followed with the re-
suits as above stated.
This will give the class Of publica-
tons that make it practice OF col
Letting something in the life OF the
well-to-do and influential citizen and
holding it over his head with a price
for suppression, chance for black
mailing the victim to their hearts
content and the extent of the victims
exchequor. While the claim is made
by people who live in glass houses that
no such opportunity be offered by any
one for scandal sheets to get some
thing on them, it must be admitted
that even if there is nothing, some
people can make a mountain OF mole
hill It is also an admitted fact that
the best of us have mole hills in our
pathway of life of which mountains
can be made by INSCRIPTIONS writer's.
1t was for such as these that the law
was passed.
Under the Minnesota gag law" such
newspapers could be held accountable
for their acts and If it was proven that
the publications were made with NAL
iciouS intent, the paper could be sup
pressed. This was done in this par
ticuular case The Duluth Rip Saw
was one of the causes for the law and
the Saturday Press affair was the out
come Those opposed to the measure,
talked about the freedom OF the press,
free speech and one or two other ex-
cuses. An effort was made to repeal
the measure at the last session OF the
legislature but it died in the throes OF
adjournment after being passed by the
house. 1t is just as well. The law
accomplished the purpose for which it
was passed and since 1925 has given
some people a rest and chance to SO
conduct themselves as to be invulner-
able to the ghoulS in the newspaper
business who now again will have full
sway.
However, Minnesota managed to get
along for years without this measure
and will probably pull through after
its demise. There will be reorganiz-
alton of the scandal sheets and per-
fectly respectable citizens will again
be shook down for goodly amounts to
prevent some act on their excutcheOn
from becoming public. At that, it
must be admitted that the fear OF
publicity has kept some people in the
straight and narrow path, while to
others write-up has been an adver-
tisement for their business. The or
binary country newspaper had nothing
to fear from this law. A small city or
town newspaper only sees the good in
its neighbors and is perfectly blind as
to the shortcomings. The country
newspaper knows what Is going on but
keeps it out of print, not to shield the
guilty, but just to keep the town or
city in which it is published from be-
coming notorious. If the paper only
circulated in it's immediate surround
ings it might be well to print some of
that kind of stuff. When a town like
Ely gets a good name in the outside
world, it is the duty of the home paper
10 keep it so.