Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-17
[Fromthe Ashtabula Sentinel
Driza TiOhfc

Mr.. Ritezel of Trumbull, who is
editor of the Western ReSerUe CHTOnl-
Gle, has introduced into the Ohio
House of Representatives a Bill so
amending the Act to punish and
suppress prize fighting as to punish
by fine of not less than $50, or im-
prisonment of not less than ten days,
the reporting, publishing or printing
of any report of a prize fight. We
hope this Bill will be speedily passed
by both Houses. 1t is much needed
amendment and Mr.. Ritezel deserves
well of the community for proposing
it and he should be honOred by his
brethren of the press for this effort 10
purge the newspapers of such reports
even if their conductors have not
the self respect to voluntarily reject
them.
The Cleveland Leader, We notice,
takes ground against this bill, as
interfering with the freedom of the
press, and insists that the mission OF
! true newspaper is to give an account
Of all that transpires, whether good
Or bad, and "hOld the mirror VI to
/ nature, and if the mirror reflects ugly
and wicked things, it is not the mir
J " > AAdANs ANAAAIlo Wis 0S
may be conclusive with the Leader.
We dare say it is satisfactory, where
ever the profits of journalism lie in
the direction of such reports, and II
might sooth the disturbed conscience
of a publisher who knows that he can
sell q large edition of his paper to the
rOughs and in all the heIls and social
cesspools of a city, by giving a full
1900 =, 4, - E,lA ,n,,I ~ r0rNnI.
but the sensible friend of good morals
would not see the benefit of such
reports to the youth of q city, who
would read them, and conclude that
a prize fight was n commendable
thing, because a respectable paper
gave it in detail. As for doing any
good by mirroring q vice, the idea
is futile. 1t is not done. Vice is
never scared at itself; and it is very
seldom that the vices of one disgust
another, to any saving extent-cer,
tainly never, as they are presented in
the columns of our city dailies, where
they are clothed in the technical slang
of the reporters, and the humorous
innuendo that makes them palatable
reading.
We are glad to see this move as 8
step of reform, and hope it will be
prosecuted vigorously. Its time that
the system of local journalism WIS
reformed instead of justified and cul,
tivated.
From the Portage Democrat.l
Mr.. Ritezel, editor OF the Warren,
Trumbull county, Chronicle, now
member of the Ohio Legislature, in
troduced a bill the other day tC
suppress prize fighting, in which it i:
made a penal offence to publish IL
detail the transactions of the ring
For this, some of the newspapers o.
the State attempt to heap upon hin
unmeasured ridicuie, for attempting
to muZZle the press, in making adaily
record of the netCS of the day. Thi:
is uncalled for. Mr.. RiteZel is actua
ted by the best of motives. Thu
brutality of the prize ring ought to b'
suppressed. He and others assume
that the notoriety given to 1t by thu
Press, tends to encourage it, while so
ciety is damaged and demoralizet
thereby. 1t is difficult TO circum
scribe the press in giving out tn
news of the day, of whatever charac
ter. But how to define limits to thi
Is u grave Qu6SllOns lLS hliluSS
disgusting details of crime, as oftel
=, given in the papers, art not fit, o
decent to be read in pure and virtuou
families. But it is, probably, hardI.
: possible, TO cure this by legal enact
- ment. These things, after all. mus
be left largely to the discretion, tn
taste, and the conscientiousness G
the publisher. While we can bu
! approve of the intent and spirit g
= the bill introduced bY Mr.. RitezeI
we are not so sure that its enactmen
- should be pressed, our people are 5
sensitive in regard to the liberty, tn
}, untrammelled freedom of the Pres;
e But we should be sorry to be number
ed among those who ridicule tn
author of the bill, or who impugn hi
conscientious motives and cOnviC
o tons. The evil he aims at needs
e remedy. But how to devise an
: apply a remedy is a question abou
which honorable gentlemen will hav
honest differences of opinion.