William Randolph Hearst: "A man as low and mean as I can picture" - Governor Al Smith

William R. Hearst was denounced as an assassin of character, an enemy of the people, and an apostle of discord, and his newspapers were called a pestilence that walks in the dark by Governor Alfred E. Smith last night, in an address delivered at Carnegie Hall. [...] There were many preambles to the resolution in which Mr. Hearst was denounced for distortion of truth, vituperation, slander, and for pursuing a career of yellow journalism from which some of the most eminent public servants of this city, State and nation, have suffered unjustly.

Resolution Against Hearst.

The resolution follows:

1. Whereas, We hold the principle to be self-evident that criticism of public officials is the essential right and duty of a free press in a free country.

2. That abuse of this right through willful misrepresentation of the policies and acts of public servants is inimical to the republic.

3. That the distortion of news columns to serve a policy of hate, slander and even libel, is unscrupulous journalism.

4. That public servants irrespective of their political allegiance should be protected against such foul play on the part of a rich newspaper publisher who exercises power without responsibility.

5. That William Randolph Hearst has pursued a career of yellow journalism in which willful misrepresentation of policies, perversions of facts, distortion of the truth to suit his hate and self-will, have been his conspicuous characteristics.

6. That William Randolph Hearst has been tried by public opinion and has been found wanting as a truly loyal American in one of our Nation's most critical hours.

7. That his vituperations, slander, and falsehood, directed against some of our ablest and most devoted public servants, living and dead, among whom may be mentioned President Woodrow Wilson, ex-President Cleveland, ex-President McKinley, William J. Gaynor, Theodore Roosevelt, John Purroy Mitchell, and Alfred E. Smith, have violated every principle of justice and fair dealing and tended to discourage disinterested public servants.

8. That the only recourse open to a public servant is to meet his opponent in public debate, which William Randolph Hearst has refused to do.

Therefore, be it

Resolved, That a committee of 1,000 representative citizens be appointed, irrespective of party allegiance, to be known as the Citizens' Fair Play Committee, whose functions it shall be to frame a sound public opinion directed against the insidious and disintegrating opinions of his journalists, and to protect public servants and citizens generally from his irresponsible methods of misrepresentation and slander through the most effective methods it can see fit to employ.

"Smith Denounces Hearst; Launches Fair Play Battle; Says Editor Is an Assassin of Character, Enemy of People, Apostle of Discord; Appeals to Public Opinion; Governor Calls the Hearst Newspapers a 'Pestilence That Walks in the Dark'; 4,000 Shout in Approval; Carnegie Hall Audience Decides to Form Committee to Protect Citizens from 'Slander.'" N.Y. Times. October 30, 1919: 1, 3. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50C11FD3A5C1B728DDDA90B94D8415B898DF1D3