Show independent PAPERS at a rece recent nt banquet of news paper men held in new york city john swinton a prominent newspaper writer delivered a most remarkable address in response to the toast the independent press there is no such thing in america as an independent press you know it and I 1 know it there is not one of you who dares to write his honest opinion and if you did you know beforehand before hand that it would never appear in print I 1 am paid a week for keeping my honest opinion out 0 of the paper I 1 am connected with others of you who get simlar similar salaries for similar things and any one of you who would be so foolish as to write his honest opinion would be put out on the streets looking for another job the business of the average journalist is to destroy the truth to lie outright to pervert to vilify to fawn at the feet of mammon and to sell his race and country for his daily daale bread you know this and I 1 know it and what folly is this to be toast ng an independent press we are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes who own the newspapers we are the jumping jacks they pull the strings and we dance our talent our possibilities and our lives are arc all the property of other men we are intellectual prostitutes |