The Press. Press Associations. AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS' ASSOCIA TION. This association of leading daily newspapers was effected through the efforts of W. H. Brearley, of Detroit, Mich.. and was brought into an organized form at Rochester, N. Y., in February, 1887. The second annual meeting was held at Indianapolis in 1888, and the third occurs at Washington. D. C., March 5, 1889. The association has a New York office at room 104 Temple Court, (near the Post-office), in the care of Mr. James S. Metcalfe, the Manager. The annual dues are $25; initiation fee, $20. The officers are: President.-Wm. M. Singerly, Philadelphia (Pa.) Record. Secretary.-L. L. Morgan, New Haven (Conn.) Register. Treasurer.-Wm. C. Bryant, Brooklyn (N. Y.) Times. NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION. Through the initiative efforts of B. B. Herbert, of Red Wing, Minn., a meeting of newspaper men was held at New Orleans during the World's Exposition. An organization was there effected, to be known as the National Editorial Association. The second session was held in Cincinnati in February, 1886; the third at Denver in June, 1887; and the fourth at San Antonio, Texas, November 21-24, 1888. The fifth session will be in Detroit, Mich., at a date to be fixed by the Executive Committee. The official and authorized organ of the association, is The National Journalist, published monthly for $1.50 a year, by B. B. Herbert, at 37 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana. The membership is composed of delegates appointed by the various State Press Associa tions. The officers are as follow: President.-J. R. Bettis, Little Rock (Ark.) Democrat. Vice-President.-John Hicks, Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern. Corresponding Secretary.-E. B. Fletcher, Morris (l.) Herald. Recording Secretary.-W. Kennedy, Pottsville (Pa.) Chronicle-Herald. Treasurer.-A. H. Lowrie, Elgin (Ill.) News. Libel There has never been any libel legislation of any consequence in Michigan. There are the usual provisions-Massachusetts and Wisconsin, for instance, have the like-that actions for libel shall not be tried before a justice (Howell's statutes §6815) and shall be tried in the county where one of the parties lives ($7547); that they shall be brought within two years ($8714), and that giving notice of justification-i. e. alleging that the charge was true-shall not be proof of malice even if not supported by evidence ($7776); that no more costs than damages shall be recovered where the damages do not amount to fifty dollars ($8965); and since 1879 it has been a misdemeanor to impute the commission of any crime or misdemeanor or of any degrading act, or to accuse a girl or woman of unchastity; the penalty for so doing may be a fine of $100 or ninety days' imprisonment in the county jail, or both; a first offense may be tried by a justice, but not a later one, and the punishment for a second offense may range from $50 to $500, and costs, or three years' imprisonment in the State House of Correction at Ionia, or both (Act 210 of 1885). The State Constitution provides that in all MICHIGAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. tion was held at Detroit, May 29, 30, 1888. The The twenty-first anniversary of this associamembership is open to all Michigan editors and publishers. The fee is $2.00. The next annual meeting will be in Grand Rapids, at a date to be fixed by the Executive Committee. The officers are: President.-W. H. Brearley, Detroit Journal. Vice-President.-Perry F. Powers, Cadillac News and Express. zette. Secretary.-George W. Perry, Bellevue GaTreasurer.-L. M. Sellers, Cedar Springs Clipper. Executive Committee.-E. E. Stowe, Grand Rapids Tradesman; E. B. Fisher, Grand Rapids Eagle: J. Lloyd Brezee, Grand Rapids Telegram-Herald; W B. Weston, Grand Rapids Leader; F. W. Ball, Grand Rapids Democrat. THE PRESS BROTHERHOOD. This secret business association of journalists was organized July 21, 1887. at Port Huron, Mich. The second annual meeting was at Detroit, May 30, 1888; and the third will be held at Grand Rapids at a date to be fixed by the Executive Committee. The initiation fee and annual dues are $2.00. The officers are: President.-W. H. Brearley, Detroit Journal. Vice-President.-J.W. Hine, Detroit Tribune. Sage.-A. H. Finn, Port Huron CommercialTribune. Senior Almoner.-Thos. Applegate, Adrian Times. Junior Almoner.-James Slocum, Holly Advertiser. Senior Monitor.-A. E. Meigs, Detroit Newspaper Union. Junior Monitor.-Orno Strong, Nashville News. Senior Notary.-D. B. Ainger, Charlotte Republican. Junior Notary.-Archibald McMillan, Bay City Press. Pedagogue.-C. S. Hampton, Petoskey Independent. Laws. prosecutions for libel the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted. The jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact." The word prosecutions" in the first clause seems to indicate that its application is to criminal cases, and substantially the same provision, more or less guarded, is to be found in most of the State Constitutions. 66 In 1885 an act was passed in Michigan providing that only actual damages could be recovered if the publication was made in good faith and involved no criminal charge and was based on a mistake of fact and was promptly corrected; that "actual damages should be limited to such as are suffered in respect to property, business, trade, profession, or occupation, and that in addition to actual damages there could never be more than $5000 recovered. This act was held, in Park v. Free Press (Nov. 28, 1888) to be in violation of constitutional rights, on the ground that its effect might be to deprive some persons of any remedy at all; and it was de clared void. There has been recent legislation elsewhere of the same tenor, as, for example, in Minnesota. A newspaper article, however, must be taken altogether in deciding whether it be libelous; disjointed extracts will not support an action. O'Connor v. Sill, 60 Mich. 175. But it is said that newspapers have no privilege that will excuse them in printing libels of which any other publication would not be excused. Foster v. Scripps, 39 Mich. 376. They may discuss what relates to the life, habits, comfort, happiness and welfare of the people, and in doing so may state facts, draw inferences therefrom and express views upon the facts; their deductions, even if false, are not actiondamage is presumed if they impute the commission of crime. Peoples v. Post & Tribune, 54 Mich. 457. It is matter of privilege to call public attention to the act of a judicial officer ordering a person into confinement without a charge against him, or in requiring bail in an amount which, considering the prisoner's probable means and position in life, he is unable to pay; these are violations of the most important guarantees of constitutional freedom, and are matters of public concern. Miner v. Detroit Post & Tribune Co., 49 Mich. 358. On the other hand a publication in a newspaper falsely imputing a charge of crime against a candidate for an elective office, is not privileged, though made in an honest belief of its truth; though the fact that it was published in good faith and after reasonable investigation may go in mitigation of damages. Bronson v. Bruce, 59 Mich. 467. And when Mr. Wheaton was a candidate for the post of comptroller of Detroit, his brother-in-law, Mr. Beecher, made the remark to a newspaper reporter that he "shouldn't wonder if the city would have the same experience with Wheaton that England had with Cyprus, when England thought it had secured a great bargain, but it turned out a huge graveyard." This interview being published in a newspaper was considered not privileged. Wheaton v. Beecher (June 16, 1887). The publication of court proceedings is not so far privileged as to justify a sensational accompaniment of defamatory comments upon the character of those in relation to whom the proceedings are taken. Scripps v. Reilly, 38 Mich. 10. Nor is it privileged to the extent of protecting statements made in connection therewith but drawn from other sources and without stating the judicial conclusion. Bathrick v. Detroit Post & Tribune Co., 50 Mich. 629. The latest English statute on the subject is the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act (44 and 45 Vict., ch. 60), which provides that any report published in any newspaper of the proceedings of a public meeting shall be privileged if such meeting was lawfully convened for a lawful purpose and open to the public, and if such report was fair and accurate and published without malice, and if the publication of the matter complained of was for the public benefit; provided always that the pro-able unless they cause special damages. But tection intended to be afforded by this section shall not be available as a defense in any proceeding if the plaintiff or prosecutor can show that the defendant has refused to insert in the newspaper in which the report contain-in ing the matter complained of appeared, a reasonable letter or statement of explanation or contradiction by or on behalf of such plaintiff or prosecutor. And no criminal prosecution shall be commenced against any proprietor, publisher, editor or any person responsible for the publication of a newspaper for any libel published therein without the written fiat or allowance of the Director of Public Prosecutions in England, or of Her Majesty's Attorney-General in Ireland. And the penalty upon summary conviction, without a jury, for a libel considered trivial by the court, shall not exceed £50. But the tendency of the decisions in Michigan has been to subject the press to very stringent regulations. It was said in the case of Tryon v. Evening News Association (39 Mich. 636) that all newspaper mention of private persons must be made under the private obligation of publishing no untruths to their prejudice and the public obligation of saying nothing at all to their prejudice unless on adequate occasions. Tryon was himself a newspaper reporter, and the Evening News had charged him with making public a private conversation. A newspaper article charging a druggist with making counterfeit Haarlem oil and putting it in counterfeit wrappers, was held libelous in Steketee v. Kimm, 48 Mich. 322. The accusation of adultery and murder was held a libel for which the accused was entitled to damages unless it should be proved that he committed the murder. Peoples v. Detroit Post and Tribune Co., 54 Mich. 457. It is libelous to publish of a lawyer an article charging him with giving dishonest, unpro- The doctrine that malice must be prefessional advice, with making false statements sumed rests on the theory that the wilful pubin professional dealings, with incurring loss of lication of injurious statements involves the confidence by misconduct, with embezzling design to produce whatever injury must moneys and with making false charges for necessarily follow; and when done purposely, services and extorting excessive compensa- knowingly and for no good purpose or justifition. Atkinson v. Free Press, 46 Mich. 341. But able end, it is malicious in the sight of the law if a man furnishes a paper with a puff of him- even if done without any actual personal illself, and the printer, by innocent typographi- will. Maclean v. Scripps, 52 Mich. 215. If a cal errors, makes it exceedingly ludicrous and retraction is not published until after suit is the man a laughing stock, it cannot be held a begun, it cannot be considered in mitigation malicious libel. Sullings v. Shakespeare, 46 of damages. Evening News v. Tryon, 42 Mich. Mich. 408. A publication charging a deputy 549. Nor will good faith protect a false publisheriff with wrongfully arresting and hand-cation. nor can one excuse himself for making cuffing people, merely to get the legal fees, and with oppressing the poor and friendless under color of office, is libelous in itself. Bourresseau v. Detroit Evening Journal Co., 63 Mich. 425. a mistaken assault upon his neighbor's reputation, by showing the absence of malice, when, even had his charge been true, there was no proper purpose in bringing the matter to public notice. Whittemore v. Weiss, 33 Mich. 348. Prices of Composition. quoted: The following are the rates per thousand | both, unless starred, when no evening rate is ems paid for composition by daily papers in most of our cities, according to the latest statistics collected by the American Newspaper Publishers' Association. The first figures given after each name are for composition on morning papers; the second for evening papers; where but one rate is given, it is for Akron, O., 30 and 25; Albany, 40, 35; Baltimore, 45, 40; Boston, 40*; Brooklyn, 50, 40; Buffalo, 35, 32; Burlington, Vt., 25*; Chicago, 46, 41; Cincinnati, 45, 42; Cleveland, 40, 35 Columbus and Dayton, O., 35, 32; Denver 50 45; Des Moines, 331%, 20 to 25; Detroit, 38, 36; El Paso, 40, 35; Ft. Worth, 40*; Grand Rapids, land, Me., 30*; Portland, Ore., 50, 45; Potts35, 30; Hamilton, Ont., 32; Hartford, 40, 35; ville, Pa., 30, 28; Providence, 40, 35; Raleigh, Indianapolis, 38, 36; Jackson, Mich., 30, 27; 33%; Reading, Pa., 30; Rochester, 33, 30; SacJacksonville, Fla., 33, 30; Jersey City, 40*; ramento, 50, 45; St. Louis, 38 (evening rate); Kalamazoo, 30, 25; Kansas City, 40, 35; Little St. Paul, 42, 37; Salem, Mass., 25 (evening rate); Rock, 35; London, Ont., 28, 25; Louisville, 42% San Francisco, 50, 45; Savannah, 37%, 333; to 46, 39% to 41; Memphis, 43, 38; Milwaukee, Scranton, Pa., 33% 30; Springfield, Mass., 40, 40, 35; Minneapolis, 42, 37; Montreal, 32. 29; 30; Syracuse, 32, 30; Toledo, 35, 30; Topeka, Nashville and New Haven, 40, 35; New Or- 33%, 30; Toronto, 30, 28; Washington, 45, 42%, leans, 45, 40; New York, 50, 40; Norristown, Waterbury, Conn., 35 to 40, and 30 to 35; WilPa., 20; Omaha, 40, 35 to 37; Oshkosh, 28, 23;mington, 30, 25; Woonsocket, R. I., 33% (evenPhiladelphia, 40; Pittsburg, 422, 372; Port- ing rate); Worcester, 40*. Additional Populations of American Cities. Since the foregoing page (76) of “Populations of Cities in the United States" was electrotyped, the following additions and corrections have been received: Allentown, Penn.. Council Bluffs, Iowa.. Population in 1888. ...... 24,00 Fall River, Mass.. Population in 1888. 65,000 38,500 Lexington, Ky.. 27,066 ERRATA.-The Presidential vote of Minnesota (see page 73) was not officially proclaimed until Dec. 19, and is as follows: Harrison.. Cleveland... 142,492 Fisk.. Harrison's plurality, 38,107. 15,311 ... 1,097 In the list of Michigan post-offices, page 94, insert Hallston, Alger Co., the designation to which the name "Anna River" was recently changed. General Byron R. Pierce is Superintendent of the Soldiers' Home at Grand Rapids, Mich. (page 83). The Detroit Journal Company would be pleased to receive from any reader of this number of the Year-Book, materials or suggestions for a similar issue already contemplated for 1890. They should be sent to the Jourwal office by October 1, 1889. The Casino Tabernacle. NE of the most satisfactory transformations that could take place in the city, is the change of the Casino Theatre to the Casino Tabernacle. The Alger Sunday School, reaching specially after the Newsboys, had been subjected to various vicissitudes. The Superintendent, Mr. C. W. Moore, held on to the work in spite of aggravating difficulties, wandering about with the school, accompanied by a faithful company of teachers, from place to place, as they could find shelter The necessities of the school were so imperative, and the more than 2,000 newsboys, in the city so neglected, as to religious and moral influences, that Mr. Moore commenced negotiations for the securing of the Casino Theatre. The undertaking was so great that no one man could take up the moral and financial burden alone, and after consultation, he found prompt response from Mr. W. H. Brearley, who agreed to take an equal share of all the burdens, incident to the enterprise. These two gentlemen assumed this financial and moral obligation in the firm belief that the citizens of Detroit, irrespective of religious associations, would come to their help in this attempt to displace a hot-bed of vice, by such a work as is now in progress at the Casino Tabernacle. The Sunday School meets every Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Mr. C. W. Moore is the Superintendent, and visitors are invited to seats on the platform. Any Christian man or woman is invited to gather a class of boys or girls at any time and join the school in a body any Sunday. Rev. L. B. Plumer, the minister in charge, conducts a Gospel service at 7.30 P. M. At this service, Gospel singing, under the lead of a trained choir, is a prominent feature. There will also be a brief Gospel sermon. The seats to these services will always be free, and everybody will be cordially welcome. The Minister in charge, can be seen every morning, from 10 to 12, in the office of the Casino Tabernacle, 198 Griswold street. Telephone 660. Telephone messages can be sent any hour, day or night. The Auditorium is one of the most convenient in the city, and can be se cured for reputable purposes. |