THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
[To the Editor of the SrucTaroit.1
Sin,—For many years now we haye been able to !roast of the " freedom'of the Press." Without doubt, it has been a factor for good in the past, but growing numbers of people are reconsidering its merits. With the great extension of the franchise of the last few years, it is essential that all electors should know for what they vote and should be informed, as far as is practicable, with unbiassed news. In this the; popular daily Press has failed completely. Such failure may in most cases, be unimportant, but there is no &Mtn that the editorial policy of a few powerful organs has been and is fraught with the most dangerous consequences for this country, Examples of this kind are numerous. Empire Free Trade may be cited as one. There seems a great possibility that, had certain papers been "Free-Traders," we should not now be a Protectionist country. As your own comments have warned us, we should not already be confronted with highs special tariff demands, and these led by the Press who naturally consider first their main source of revenue—their advertisers and not their readers. A particularly dangerous case hai, unfortunately, had considerable support in the events of the past few months. The faith in the League of Nations of the "man in the street" was weakened by Press comments and suggestions, and many who mildly supported the League are now definitely hostile to it as an " extravagant luxury." Had these same papers been more kindly disposed towards the railways we should probably have seen the rail Companies upon a surer footing for competition with their road rivals.
—I am, Sir, &c., F. C. TOMLINSON. 0 St. Margaret's Road, Swindon, Wilts.
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