be published without public notice of their source or else substantiation of their claim to value as news, both in form and substance. 2. Partisanship in editorial comment which knowingly departs from the truth does violence to the best spirit of American journalism; in the news columns it is subversive of a fundamental principle of the profession. IV. Sincerity, Truthfulness, Accuracy-Good faith with the reader is the foundation of all journalism worthy of the name. 1. By every consideration of good faith a newspaper is constrained to be truthful. It is not to be excused for lack of thoroughness or accuracy within its control or failure to obtain command of these essential qualities. 2. Headlines should be fully warranted by the contents of the articles which they surmount. V. Impartiality-Sound practice makes clear distinction between news reports and expressions of opinion. News reports should be free from opinion or bias of any kind. 1. This rule does not apply to so-called special articles unmistakably devoted to advocacy or characterized by a signature authorizing the writer's own conclusions and interpretations. VI. Fair Play-A newspaper should not publish unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral character without opportunity given to the accused to be heard; right practice demands the giving of such opportunity in all cases of serious accusation outside judicial proceedings. 1. A newspaper should not invade private rights or feelings without sure warrant of public right as distinguished from public curiosity. 2. It is the privilege, as it is the duty of a newspaper, to make prompt and complete correction of its own serious mistakes of fact or opinion, whatever their origin. VII. Decency-A newspaper cannot escape conviction of insincerity if while professing high moral purpose it supplies incentives to base conduct, such as are to be found in details of crime and vice, publication of which is not demonstrably for the general good. Lacking authority to enforce its canons, the journalism here represented can but express the hope that deliberate pandering of viscious in stincts will encounter effective public disapproval or yield to the influence of a preponderant professional condemnation. A MEMBER: I move the adoption of the report. (The motion was duly seconded, put by the Chairman and carried). JUDGE THOMPSON: I might add as a suggestion here that the rules of the Supreme Court have been somewhat revised since the Second District revised their rules, so in making your revision you want to take that into consideration. CHAIRMAN: Are there any other business to report? Do you know of anything else, Judge Thompson? JUDGE THOMPSON: Nothing, only general discussion. CHAIRMAN: The meeting is open for general discussion on any of the topics that have been before you or any other topics you may desire to bring out and any gentleman speaking, kindly give their name. Will the Resolutions Committee want to report to this meeting? JUDGE TAYLOR: That will require some time. CHAIRMAN: I think that all of the Committees have reported. There will be another session of the State Bar Association at the LeClaire Hotel at 1:30 this afternoon. If there is no discussion a motion to adjourn will be in order. (Adjournment). MEETING OF LOCAL BAR DELEGATES ELK'S CLUB, MOLINE, 7:30 P. M. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1926 The meeting was called to order, President Montgomery in the chair. THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, I ask you to come to order. I will ask the Secretary, Mr. Stephens, to make an announcement of the program of the meeting. There are two or three MR. R. ALLAN STEPHENS: things which the State Bar Association would like to know of the Local Bar Association delegates this evening, at this Annual Meeting. The first one is this: We have been putting on our district meetings for about eight years, and they have been running on more successfully, I believe, each year. But we appreciate the fact that ideas concerning the set-up for these district meetings have been coming, from year to year, from the officers of the State Association, rather than from the Local Bar Associations, or from the members of the Local Bar Associations. And what we would like to have are some suggestions from you and some very frank criticisms from you as to how the district meetings could be improved, or something we ought to do along the district meeting line. Another thing we want to ask you about: We have had this last year our legislative program, which consisted of the attempt to get through the legislature a bill giving the Supreme Court the power to amend the practice act or |