The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-30

There has been a grand movement oriGi-
mated hy the Pacific Coast WonanS Press
Association, which should be welcomed and
supported by all SoGd and respectable peo-
pc in oar country-it is for a higher stan
dard and greater purity of the press. More
than twenty thousand California women
have signed petition to the san Francisco
newspapers, which reads as follows
I'VE. the women OF California, present
YOU this petition. which We believe repre-
sentS the convictions of many times the
number OF those whose names are sub
scribed. We recognize that the newspaper
Is Indispensable in our homes, and as the
guardians of family purity we make this
appeal y2I .,,,.o,.o Of ON. nanars - t,,ofr on
erSy and enterprise. but we believe the
time has come tor them to take higher
stand on the question Of public morals
We deplore in them 'sensatiOnaliSm, not
the exposure of crime. We deplore per
SOHalitieS,' not the public announcement OF
personal acts. We believe that it is a mi
norlty of your readers who demand SenSa-
tIonaI, personal OF immoral details, rather
than the clean statement OF facts and
truth. There is too often minutenesS of
detail IN the reports given Of crime, wicked
ness and Sensualty, which can crafty only
prurfent and yulsar curiosity, or awaken
such curiosity IN innocent and inexperienced
minds. We feel that spreading broadcast
vicious and debasing news in homes
and among our children, and the conSe-
quent knowledge ana easy Familiarity with
crime IN an its sorms has tendency IL
lowe the tone OF thought among the best
of our people, AMI to strengthen the worst
instincts among the morally lower classes.
I'VE therefore most earnestly and re-
specially petition the press ut this time to
make concerted effort TO elevate the
moral tone Of their columns, ana to give us
newspapers free from the evils We d-plore
feeling confident that the majority Of the
public Will encourage such an effort and
promising you our heartfelt cooperation
and support"
No one can read the above petition with
out being impressed wit, fba
power and forces of argument
uSeu and the great need for grant
ing the petition. Already there has bean
noticeable good effect on the local press of
that city, for Il WolI-knoVn CaIiforni7
woman, herself an editor. saws in n nrit.,f'
letter to another editor. this:
AS dlrect proof of the Immediate effect
OF inns effort on our local press. reportcr
oA tiie one OF the two most Of
1enSlVely and enterprisinslv sensational
ct our dailies. told me- that since This move
heAt he and his kind Were under special
instructions 10 treat their details i'm . re-
strained and clearly manner: notably in q
PECULIARLY revolving murder case which ne
had reported; matter that heretofore his
paper would have Haunted diseustinelv he
fore the public
The great desire for the sensational has
caused our newspapers to almost forget
everything else in pampcrng to public
taste. While crime should be suppress
Ell, Yet such details that are entered into
are often unnecessary. and make our pa
pors very Objectionable, especially to The
NoTnS girls and boys Of our household.
When we remember that with so many.
tie only daily reading is the newspapers.
the educational effect for GOOD or OWL is
scarcely'to he estimated, hence the great
Importance Of reform Of some OF the
present abuses OF our newspaper literature
This movement of reform and purity of
the press 10y the California women is to be
greatly commended and We trust it VIII
spread over all our country and be encour-
aged by all good citizens.