| Show The Press Wont Won't Be Hushed i x NY fe fearless editor sure of tys lIs is facts and andi i figh fighting int for the best inter interests of f the i Uc would wo ld not let lef a prospective jail jail S sen sentence seli- seli 1 f tence finc- sw sway y him from his convictions in edi- edi t orial writing I T didn't ake at Two o Cleveland editors quake fanning tm in ing ng the risk of contempt of of court oud pr pro pro- edings And now th they y st std stand sent sentenced to thirty days das in irs jail and a fine of each jf they are are sure that their stand was as right the ch chances are that they would do it allover all allover ov over over r ag again These newspaper men Louis 8 B Seltzer e of df the Cleveland Pr Pre Press ss and Carl Carl K Matzen chief editorial writer wilIer were were haled t court o rt of of Judge Lut Luther LutIer r O. O Walther because because- 6 the Press had published an editorial d 4 declaring claring I r g i that at ah an an injunction i he gran grant t d ci was a arid acc either monstrous or ridiculous a accusing si s- s i ing g him him him ot being n made ad th the dupe of f r racing cing interests ts J Judge dge W Walther filed the contempt of f court pr proceedings proceedings- himself convicted the We f editors editors himself ims lf and then did th the sentencing t at of of course se is the usual sual method Never eyer th there's theres the re es e's s a ring of injustice in io ha having havinga v ng a a court procedure court ourt proc dur J that p an angered judge ludge jo 10 to-do to do that sort of thing T The e old theory y is is of Qt course p s that thai lh judges s should be safe rom from outside criticism ort s rt of the kip can alt do db ri n rio r wr wrong ng the 1 ory ory Certain s safeguards safeguards' feg ards against again t. t i intimidation oti ar are n necessary fon the cot courts But for or be b iJ into lo silence i in in th the fate face face of f rank injustice from the the courts couts couts coutsis' coutsis is is' intolerable Th The f fallibility of the he j judiciary IS is too loo of often en obvious N Nearly all an j judges are elected That t means s they must St not too grievously offe offend d. d political 1 arties and bos bosses est if f they are to be chosen arid stay in office Hence partisan partisanship ip ipsom som sometimes influences e es' es th the c couris and nd certainly ly we know for a fact f fact t that terrific pressure is oft often n br brought on art j that judges sways their judgments judg judg- ments and and n brings bring ine inexcusable leniency Is to be bc no voice of protest in such c ses VHo Who will expose ju judicial ic al incompetence tei e favoritism favoritism favoritism fa fa- fa- fa or even corr corruption if not the press Is Js the press t to r be be muzzled muzzle No not as as' long longas longa as a there are editors d dedicated did ted speaking to the truth Contempt of cou court t. t p proceedings o e dings have a ring ring- of cowardliness about them thern when th they y are u used ed for for- The Hie purpose o of retaliating ting against a critic Such cases cannot annot be decided edly on their merits when the offended judge brings the charge and takes makes the conviction It is t time 1 e for fot esi establishing blis some sone new precedents prece- prece dents e in c contempt of f court questions As 10 long g gis as Judges are tie tied up with party politics politics- tim the right of a a. fre free press should not b bab be ab abridged by b every peeved jurist Un Unlit tit Ain Ameri American ri rican can can courts are arc ed so sq that thal justice is not nI constantly o st overthrown ove through technicalities and influence the country sorely needs editors edi this tors who vho will wilt speak c courageously urage and plainly The people may tay be be thankful that t there will always be editors wh who will not be hushed hed by threats of jail ai sentences es i |
