St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-16
ADVISING THE EDITOR.
City Pastors Decide How Newspa-
pers ShOuId be Run.

The city pastors yesterday morning con-
sidered the question of religious press.
Rev. w. K. Marshall of the Thirteenth
Avenue NJ. E. church read a paper in
which he took occasion to condemn the
sensational features of the daily press. He
thought that the papers seek to secure de-
tails of crimes which are written up i'm a
very salacious way-robberies, assaults
upon women, sporting news, footlight
gossip are the leading features of too many
of the great dailies. They create an I'M
healthy appetite in their readers and as a
result there are people who have not read a
good book in five years, but who spend a
half hour every day reviewing this piano.
rama of crime. The Montreal Witness the
speaker instanced as his ideal of what
paper should be. 1t eliminates the sensa-
tons and presents the real news of the day
in a readable way without printing lot of
rubbish concerning the dongs of disreputa-
bic people. Mr.. Marshairs criticisms were
uttered in kindly way, but he seemed
very much in earnest in his opinions as to
the way in which papers should be con-
Quoted. One dangerous tendency in the
publication of details of crimes, he thought,
is TO make people familiar with crime.
''Vice is a monster of such hideous mien
That to be hated needs but TO be seen.
But seen too oft.
Familiar with its face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
IN THE DISCUSSION
that followed the reading of the paper,
Rev. j. +. Chaffee expressed the opinion
that newspapers are what the public makes
them. Rev. j. NJ. Buell. said he heard a
young girl on the motor say the othertlay,
Il always read the murders. and think they
are perfectly lovely" and her remark struck
him as fOrcibly illustrating the morbid
craving that exists in the minds of many
people for the details of crimes.
DR.. Sample did not consider the starting
of a religious daily practicable, but thought
the pastors should make an effort to reform
the press. While the publication of ac-
counts of crimes may have restraining in-
fluence, yet the details of fights, murders
and revolving wickedness are written up in
so attractive way as to make them posi-
lively enticing. As member of a COM
mittee from the Pastors association, he
once went to the editor of the Pioneer
Press and protested against the practice of
the paper in printing whole columns of
criminal news. in which the various items
were strung out in way that plainly indi-
Gated it was done through policy. The
editor acknowledged that too much atten-
ton is paid to this class of news. but
claimed that much of it came through the
telegraph and got into the paper after he
had left the office.
Rev. c. A. Van Anda thought the pub
lie should be refined. The press caters to
popular demand, and so long as the people
desire filth they will get filth. He once
knew a child who insisted upon eating dirt,
and her appetite was not more unnatural
than the insatiate craving of many people
for sensational news.
Rev. Z. S. Williams thought that per-
sonal appeals to editors would accomplish
much. If the matter is brought to their at
ton he felt confident that newspaper men
will as general thing endeavor to educate
the public into desiring cleaner papers and
news of better character. 1--WE all like
to read which horse won the race" said
Mr.. Williams, ''but why should whole col
umns be devoted to such matters? Another
thing that hurts the church is the sneering
way in which Christian men and women
and Christian institution are often treated.
There is
ONE NEWSPAPER WRITER
in the city whom 1 intend to seek out if it
takes year. He continually inserts in his
paper short, hateful, cynical paragraphs
about the church that hurt and sting. l
think that we should pray with the report
ers and editors and try to make them better
men,"
Mr.. Marshall closed the discussion by
commencing the spirit of the remarks upon
his paper. He did not think a religious
paper would be financial success, but why
could it not be sustained by contributions
The rich men are giving their money to the
church, and why should they not sustain
such paper. The enterprise and push of
newspapers is simply marvellous and the
church cannot afford TO have such a potent
factor for good or evil directed in a way
that is certain to do incalculable injury.
ssEENCEz, AS pIAINTIEE