Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1940-01-25

human beings affected by individual
outlooks; limited in their knowl-
edge, hampered by the scant leisure
for reflection which is an inevitable
condition of daily publication.
Newspaper men and women, like
those in other walks of life, are rls-
ing to the challenge of the times.
They realize that all institutions
having large powers are under
scrutiny The right to exercise pow
er must be justified by the respon-
sibility with which it is exercised.
The safeguards with which the lib
erty of the press was surrounded by
the Bill of Rights cannot be used as
a protection against criticism where
criticism is proper.
Publishers and their staffs are
aware of the increasing social i'm
portance of their calling. They ap-
preciate the educational values for
good or for evil Of the press. They
recognize that it is up to them to
Justify the guaranty of a free press,
which is written into the Constitu-
ton.
In the u years that have been
publisher of the Washington Post l
have seen many evidences OF this
growth of professional responsible
ity in what is called the fourth es-
tate Partly because there is still
room for progress in this direction,
there is every reason to anticipate
such growth in the future.
| have mentioned the constitu-
tional guaranty Of free press. 1t
is we'll to remember that this guar
anty does not stand alone in the Bill
Of Rights. 1t is one of series of
associated provisions in the first
amendment to the Constitution. 1t
reads as follows:
Congress shall make no law re-
spectine an establishment of relig-
ion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech or Of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to as
semble and to petition the Govern
ment for a redress of grievances.
The grouping together as essen
tial democratic rights, of freedom
of religious faith, freedom ot
speech, freedom of assembly, ana
freedom Of the press was not mere
accident. They are associated
rights; they stand or fall together.
If one were undermined, the others
would all be jeopardized.
Above all things the press must
endeavor to be unbiased and fair In
the presentation of the news. When
feelings run high, as they do today
on many subjects, the press can be
great stabilizing force If it re-
mains impartial and dispassionate
in giving it's readers the facts on all
public questions. Such fair-m1nded
ness can contribute to the solution
of our many problems and thereby
Justify the role of the press in mod
ern civilization. This desire to be
fair has been steadily growing
There is every reason to expect con
tinued growth. The basic element
in impartiality is tolerance; never
has the country been in greater
need of this spirit of Give and let
live" than it is today. BY being toll
Grant themselves, the newspapers
can exert great moral force ana
help reason instead of passion to
prevail.
The public desire for accurate
and full information VIII guarantee
the freedom of press that mas
these two essential qualities: fair
ness and tolerance.
The very urgency of our problems
has accentuated the national I'M
pulse of newspapermen toward sell
improvement. The progress maae
in recent years by the press is the
best guaranty of still greater prog
ress in the future. Our press mas
long been the best in the world;
But in the immediate future | feel
certain the free American press Will
more than ever Justify the conf
dence of our people, and will play
an ever-increasing part in moldins
the future of our Nation.-Eugene
Meyer, Publisher of the Washington
Post.