The Silver State

Some curiosity has been expressed as to how the anti-Declaration of Independence press would answer the charges brought by the newspaper men at Manila against the censorship. The answer has come, the protestors are called "a lot of irresponsible newspaper men," and therefore unworthy of belief. The apologists for the censor, however, are respectfully reminded that only the best and most reliable newspaper men are sent to cover such important details as those which call them to the Philippines. The men who are chosen for such service are as responsible as the papers which send them. To call them "irresponsible," therefore, is to call their papers "irresponsible." The papers which are called "irresponsible" in this instance by the anti-Declaration of Independence press are the Chicago Record, New York Sun, New York Herald, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, and Scripps-McRae Association. The peculiar part of the charge is that many of the papers who call the newspapermen who signed that protest "irresponsible" depend upon the Associated Press service for their news. These papers get all their Philippine news through the agency of Robert M. Collins, John P. Dunning and L. Jones, the Associated Press representatives stationed at Manila. These three men signed the protest. The Associated Press papers, therefore, who call them "irresponsible," in effect tell their readers that their news is gathered by "irresponsible" men. Consistency is a jewel not to be found in the crown of him who writes the heavy leaders of the anti-Declaration of Independence press.