The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-10-06
NEWSPAPER oRIrIC1sa1s.

NEWSPAPER CRITICISMS.
The Duty of Newspapers in Regard to
Public Entertainments.
Last Monday Mr.. Morris, manager
of the Morris Comedy Troupe, called
upon US. and inquired why we had
ascused his troup of vulgarity and
objected TO their return to Enporia.
We stated that it was solely because
we believed on reliable authority, that
the facts were as we had stated, and that
our duty as public journalists required
Us to rebuke every breech of decorum
and proPrietY at a public entertain
ment. Heproceeded in gentlemaniy
manner to state that. our informant
WAS entirely mistaken, that nothing
vulgar in action or expression took
place on the evening referred to,
Saturday, Sept. %, or was allowed at
any of his entertainments, and that
our criticism was unjust. He further
stated that his troupe is very well
known along the lines of several
railroads IN Missouri, Kansas and other
States, and he considered our remarks
that we did not know where they came
from or where they went to, &c, as
especially uncalled for and uni ustitia-
BILE, and in his opinion. if he had
advert ised with US, or presented us
III ~
would not have fonnd any fault with
his entertainment. In this we give
Mr.. Morris the public benefit OF his
own statement, as we would cheerful
iy publish any communication he
saw fit to furnish.
We have taken the trouble to inquire
more into the character of the perfor-
nance we criticised, and we regret to
state that we find that it was in sew
eral features quite as vulgar and objec
tionable as we stated it to be, and
therefore we must hold to our criticism
as being correct and proper, and en-
tirely justifiable from our standpoint of
duty TO the public.
criticise public entertainm ents, we
wish to add few words. There are
of course in every town a few individ-
uals whose pocket books are benefited
by public entertainments. 1t may be
that all such individuals take an en-
tirely tnercernary view of the moral
Influences which entertainments ex-
ert, and that they are ready to pro-
nounce any kind of show all right
and proper and deserving of public
patronage as long asit benefits them,
nd quite IS ready to denounce it as
a humbug and imposition when it does
not happen to put money into their
pockets, and that they think every
body else's opinion is based upon
equally mercenary motives with their
own. Such people would of course
agree with Mr.. Morris, that newspaper
praise or censure depends altogether
upon the amount of money or the
number of free tickets which the edi-
tors get. If this is the universal rule
by which men are governed, it is for
tnnate that in Emporis the newspapers
are free from it. We don't know
exactly why 1t has become the almost
invariable custom in Emporia for
public entertainments, except circuses,
to not do any Business worth mention
Ing with the newspapers, but i5 is a
fact that this has become the custom
to an extent that renders tie public
show patronage of papers here of so
little importance that the papers have
long ceased to expect, ask or care
for any business from public enter
tainments. Whoever else gets part
of their receipts, and sings high or low
accordingly, the papers get SO little,
and that little SO grudgingly, that it
makes no difference at all to the papers
whether they get any or not. This
leaves them free to judge of all enter
tainments on their merits and express
their opinions accordingly. Granting
therefore, that editors would, like 9TH
er people, be governed entirely by
mercenary motives, the custom which
has deprived them of business patron
age has also freed them from the gag
of few dollars worth of advertising
or few complimentary tickets, and
leaves them free to perform their duty
as journalists in regard TO the character
and worth of entertainments placed
before their readers, and as long as
they are not bribed by an advertise
ment or free pass they can be ex-
pected to say just what they think
ought to be said in behalf OF public
rights and sound morality.
Mr. Morris notion that few dollars
worth of advertising, some bills to
print, or some free tickets, would
either secure our approval or buy our
silence in regard to what we consider
TO be q breach OF public decorum
or q violation of good taste and proprf-
ETY., is an entire failaey. II that kind
OF patronage 81 enoBgii to buy as body
and so.ss, Ne are thankful that it has
NOT received or expected, and ffI
tl1as u 10 be It's effect, we trnst it viii
never be bestowed upon US either BY
himself or by any manager OF any
entertainment whatever. he may
find many people whom be has to do
business with aud pay money or give
tickets ready 70 applaud or censure
Just as they receive such patronage,
and ready TO attribute 70 Others SINH
lar rv,f,eizes To tatosa which govern tllerD-
selves, but we trust that ate all such
people, in any avocation. are but few,
80 .,,.t a,,cl, kind q nesysnaner ,,,er,