hearsay evidence, or, worse still, let himself be guided by his craving to be sensational, he has laid himself open not only to censure but to punishment.
In reply to this, I send to the "Times" a perfectly respectful
letter, citing scores of cases, and telling the "Times" where
hundreds of other cases may be found. The "Times" returns
this letter without comment. A couple of months pass, and
as a result of the ceaseless, agitation of the radicals, there
is a congressional investigation, and evidence of atrocious
cruelties is forced into the newspapers. The "Times" publishes
an editorial entitled, "Prison Camp Cruelties," the first
sentence of which reads: "The fact that American soldiers
confined in prison-camps have been treated with extreme
brutality may now be regarded as established." So again I
write a polite letter to the "Times," pointing out that I think
they owe me an apology. And how does the "Times" treat
that? It alters my letter without my permission! It cuts out
my request for an apology, and also my quotation of its own
words calling for my punishment! The "Times," caught in a
hole, refuses to let me remind its readers that it wanted me
"punished" for telling the truth! "All the News that's Fit to
Print!"
Or take the case of Henry Ford, who brings suit against the "Chicago Tribune" for libel, and cites five lies in one single news item:
Lie No. 1. That guardsmen employed by Ford would lose their
places.
Lie No. 2. That no provision would be made for their dependents.
Lie No. 3. That their families could get along as best they might.
Lie No. 4. That when they returned they would have to apply for their old jobs as strangers.
Lie No. 5. That this rule applied to the Ford plants everywhere.
At the trial it was proven that all these statements were
false. All the Ford workers who were drafted to Mexico had
their wages paid to their families while they were away. On
the other hand it was shown, through the testimony of Joseph
Medill Patterson, one of the editors of the "Tribune," and a
renegade Socialist, that he had ordered the stopping of the pay
of all those "Tribune" men who were drafted to Europe! I
quote the testimony.
"How many of your employes went to the great war?"
"About two hundred and sixty-eight."
