Imperial Valley press., 1940-11-21
NO INFLUENCE IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

Another bitter, disparaging attack on
newspapers came from New Deal quar-
tiers this week. when Sol. A. Rosenblatt,
general counsel of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, spoke at the Amerl-
can Federation of Labor convention.
The newspapers of the ,ountry, as
they usually do, reported full what Ros-
enblatt said against them.
Said Mr.. Rosenblatt:
"I am convinced that the best guaran-
ty of a free press lies in the public dis
cussion of the manner and method with
which the press has been carrying out its
vast responsibilities to the public
On that point we agree wholeheartedly
with Mr.. Rosenblatt.
We cannot agree with Mr.. Rosenblatt,
however, in his statement that the great
est shock ever experienced by the news
papers of America was to wake up on
the morning of November A. 1886, and
discover that they had no influence III
the presidential election.
If Mr.. Rosenblatt would stir his men,
ory bit, he should recall that almost
every newspaper in the country conceded
beforehand that President Roosevelt
would win the 1886 election. 1t took
courage to oppose him in the face of the
almost certain defeat.
Mr. Rosenblatt, of course, saw the 1910
election as merely repetition of the 1886
election. As far as the issue of freedom
of the press was concerned, it was the
same And, to lesser degree, the news
papers again fought battle which, ac-
cording to every creditable national poll
before the election, was a losing battle.
The only fair conclusion is that the news
papers were expressing their honest
opinions, regardless of consequences. As
long as they do that, whether they win
or lose, we shall have free press i'll
America.
1t is on another point, however, that
we disagree most heartily with the DEM
ocratic party's general counsel.
1t is on his statement that newspapers
have mo influence in the presidential
election"
Fifty million people in the United
States are more conscious today than
ever before of their federal government
and its policies, largely because Of news
paper reports and discussions.
twenty-five million people today are
welded into loyal opposition the
best safeguard democracy can have, be-
cause of full newspaper discussion of
election issues, pro and con.
Every newspaper reader in the United
States knows the campaign promises of
the victorious candidate now, more sure
ly than in any past campaign-and most
of them will be watching to see that the
promises are fulfilled.
No influence? We cannot agree.
The influence we see is far more po-
tent in the interest of democracy than
the mere winning of an election cam
paign. 1t is the reporting of news, the
awakening of the people to issues, so
that the people can decide for themselves
what stand they want to take on the is
sues.
Newspapers cannot win an election
because they are competitive, because
they must report both sides of the ques-
tion, because they are not controlled by
any one man or group of men.
The freedom of the press is the only
thing that curbs the power of the press
AS long as the press is free, it cannot be
all-powerful. A controlled press, offer
ing only one side of the story, printing
the speeches and arguments of only one
man, could and would win an election
for anybody, no matter how unscrupu-
lous.
That is why we believe it vital to the
people to keep their newspapers free
free to be wrong if they must, but still