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Show THE RIGHT OF CRITICISM Widespread regret Is being express-Oil express-Oil nt tho recent decree or a New York court under which theaters would ho able to exclude riltlss comments wore not liked by the managers. man-agers. This Is a principle that will work to public disadvantage In more ways than one. ir a theater puts on n poor play, the dramatic writer always used to be protected by the courts In his comment. No libel suit Is possible unless malice ran he shown, to prre which Is rarely attempted. It is recounted rec-ounted that such criticism saves tho public from wasting much money on trash. Ilul now It looks as lr In New-York New-York state at least, a rrltlc could bo thrown out or his Job by Inability to enter the play houses where his work must bo dono. This might be worse than paying damages In court. Perhaps Per-haps the politicians will get the habit hab-it next, nnd close their debates In legislatures and city councils to representatives or the press. Prejudiced opinions kill themselves nnd do not call for legal Interference. The public learns tho truth, nnd It resents unfair attacks. Hut as civilization civil-ization advances, peoplo seem to grow more sensitive to criticism , Tho worst trouble is Bllence. Ne-'-pnper men .is n class aro too rood mi tn red. It Is so much easier to smile and say nice things, nnd frank expo- j sure or fnult.s Is often regarded ps nn evidence or dyspepsia. Hut It tcnci ( up community life In nil ropectb. Li Is astonishing how public olllclnls, i who were deaf to private remonstrance, remon-strance, will sometimes Jump to remove re-move defects when n newspaper prods them If the New York decision referred to Is good law. It Is time for a redefinition rede-finition In statute form or the rights or free discussion. In so far an such freedom of opinion is checked, dullness dull-ness and dirt win nourish In tho dra-matlc dra-matlc world, nnd graft and Inetllclen-cy Inetllclen-cy In public Hfo. |