The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-11-02
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

IEceuOm VI TIE press does not mean
that newspaper can say anything it wish
es with impunity.
A newspaper can abuse that freedom
just the same as man can abuse his free
dom, and in each instance there are suffi-
cient laws to correct those abuses.
Because of that fact and the further
fact that newspaper publishers are as jeal-
sous Of the freedom Of the press as they are
sof their personal liberty. they are as UNI
shakably opposed to the licensing provision
Of the proposed NRA code for newspapers
as they would be to q licensing provision
governing their personal liberty - s.
Whether or not, General johnson of
the NRA realizes that fact now, eventually
he must come to, realize it, Neither he
nor the administration Under which he is
working can curb or limit the constitution
al guarantee of the freedom of the press.
And II he is anxious to obtain working
code. for the press, the only way he will OBJ
tain it will be to omit the proposed licens-
ing, provision.
General Johnson had become SO used
to compliance of army men without ques-
ton with every order Of, their superiors, he
has shown on several occasions to be some
what out Of his element in his demands on
various NRA matters His worst decisions
was in refusing access to news of a reporter.
who, according to General Johnson, had
"misrepresented the facts"
What is the misrepresentation Of a
fact? Who is to decide arbitrarily that
fact has been misrepresented?
All men can agree on simple facts
facts that are self evident, but facts that
are as far-reaching, socially and economic
ally. as are. most Of the MIRA provisions en-
bodied in codes are susceptible of differ
ent constructions BY different minds.
Is it for General johnson alone to de-
eide when fact has been misrepresented?
Were that the case, then the press would
be mnzzled, its freedom. guaranteed by the
constitution. would be. throttled SO far as
self-expression of editors would be con-
cerned because the Interpretation of facts
would be left to General Johnson. It was
his interpretation Of a fact that led him to
bar newspa from the MIRA con-
ferences S
In commenting on his decision in that
matter he declared that he did not object
m the least to any newspaperman's telling
the truth
IEat assertion was remlnd1ul OF what
Machado said when the Cuban press was
functioning under his iron heel: that he
firmly believed in the freedom of the press
but that he as firmly insisted that the press
tell the truth.
With Machado everything was true
that favored his administration, and he was
the sole arbiter Of that truth. Can it be
that General Johnson insists also on de-
termining what is the truth pertaining to
his activities and decisions as head of the
NRA? -f' sa'
What is the truth? The truth is as one
conscientiously secs It, and newspapermen
generally are just as conscientious in that
regard, as IS General johnson. 81,
Finally. at the two hundredth ami
versary Of the freedom Of the press in this
country. celebrated BY journalism at Mt.
Vernon, N. r, Col. Robert 3. Mccormick.
of the Chicago Tribune, after paying tri-
butA to John Peter 1engenL the first apostle
of that freedom, epitomized the newspap-
ers' conception of duty toward. the public
and the attitude they maintain toward the
NIsA in these words: ~
Il will guarantee on the part of the
newspapers OF America that il the charter
OF their right to freely publish in the in
terest Of the people il fully set forth. in the
newspaper code, they viii hail the codifier
IS patriot