New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-13
A DEBATE ON THE PRESS
HAS THE NEWSPAPER LOST ITS MORAL
SENSE?"
THE QUESTION DISCUSSED PRO AND CON BEFORE
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY CLUB AT
sHERRY's BY TALCOTT WILLIAMS. DIR.
MACARTHUR AND GEORGE
CARY EGGLESTON,

Several hundred persons present at sherry's
last night to listen discussion on the question.
HAS the Newspaper Lost Its Moral Sense? The
entertainment held under the auspices OF the
Nineteenth Century Club II noticeable that
the expression of sentiment opposing the sensa-
tional disclosures of family affairs was heartily ap-
pauded several times in the course OF the discus
sion Those present found in this opportunity to
voice their condemnation Of the sensational press.
but they were equally domonstrative in showing
their approval Of the influence for good exerted
by the newspapers. Prior to the discussion recep-
ton held.
Talcott Williams. of THE Philadelphia Press"
began the discussion with the observation that 1.-The
ideal newspaper is one edited by him who is wiser
than the community in which he lives" Mr.. Will
Jams deplored faults in the press of to-day. but
pointed the existence of those qualities which
go to make ideal newspaper. and defended 1t
against the charge that moral sense Is lacking The
steady and unvarying pertinacity with which the
American newspaper exposes crime and wrong.
he said. SIS confined not to cases In the police
records but extends 10 wider fields exerting a
powerful influence for good" But 1t is question
in the publication of social evils. all
that is worst in the community should he laid before
the reader at the breakfast table. Most of us are
certain ought not to be read by those few years
younger than ourselves.
In the cheapness of some newspapers appears an
explanation for the striving after sensat!onalism
sldered that the newspaper whose subscription price
is $40 a year sod a sufficient price to live with
out resorting to sensationalism The speaker dweit
at length the cheapness Of things In America
compared to foreign prices. lie recalled an IN
tervlew with the manager of Henry 1rvings troupe,
who remarked that II was peculiar that the New
Yorker paid more for the carriage which takes him
to the theatre than for the seat in the theatre MI
Williams concluded: The government OF q democ-
racy. the progress and development of its insti-
tutions and the entire apparatus of Its equipment
by which 1t discharges the duties of civilization and
prepares the way in the social world for the crea-
ton OF new democratic order are only possible In
the glare of a glorious suniight-the sunlight OF
pitless publicity.
The Rev Robert s. Macarthur followed with
criticism Of the press and citations Of instances In
which he believed that newspaper morality had
been lost. lie mentioned inaccurate reports OF
church meetings, at which there was applause Dr.
Macarthur said he recognized the haste with
which news reports must often be written, and the
difficulty encountered in obtaining an interview
with man as he is leaving his carriage or walk
ing rapidly in the street. Another objection OF DR.
Macarthur to the newspaper was its inquisitive-
ness and, he regretted to hear that "ihe foreign
press Is copying this American tendency
The speaker went on: But me new spap ,nso NO
must admit that the newspaper today IS inc pupc
school to the noas. " sa Is ina Yet am not
disposed TO believe that the newspaper VIII TAX
dsa fvne can never glow with the life Of the
warm heart of the man aglow with the fire OF
living truth" o o, him,
SELF then replied 10 the charges that me newspaper
ment that he occupied the unenviaole position ms
night of being A horrible example, ana seaTsed ID
ripple of laughter in the audience that ssaa ar NJ
continued to mse' SOM The Z T b as the
Republican newspaper Of the city. and as being a
living argument against the charge that me pes pes
had lost its moral sense by the opposition II mani
tested the Ranes BIZ thereby showns us tn as
controlled by any party .,., .,o,. had h.s,n
some misunderstanding in the ARRANGEMENTS maze
for his appearance TO reply 20 arguments against s
mems me - Ee answered DR. Macarthur By rectins an
experience with minister the head OF plVi.iet
grievance against a reporter for misluotng MS
sermon. The clergymans manuscrpi; WIS
anologized TO the newspapers. round OF applause
followed the speakers address. ana the meeting az
among those who heard the discussion were John
A. Taylor president OF the club. and the vce-pres-
f RaT T T5s SU0e e Williams Mrs H. j. Hayden
Miss Amy Townsend, Daniel G., THOMPSON r AIs
Henry DTaper Mrs Eawa sSas Mrs Ehan An
William Travers jerome. Brander Mathews. An
Phelps Stokes TTsdeTc r. uoTs"s GI DENIM
Henry A. Oakley. Miss Nevins. General Horace
Porter Dorman 4 Eaton Mrs. E na prd ~ c sas
retary. and Perclval Knauth. treasurer; ST Clair
McKeiway. Miss Kissam. Russell a. Grhn' Mrs Mrs.
e bDs'G sa1se M Fox b. Ms Meredth haley
Mrs William Should. Colonel and Mrs. w. r.
Morse Miss H p HsIrick Mrs w noln.m neFI M,s
Gable. Ernest IngersoI. Miss Mayo, Mr. ,a and Mrs
J. Grever, Colonel C. W. Norton Miss TaS Der
s MSs Mrs. Rimbaii Recorder Con. Mr. and Mrs
Hamilton Ormsiee. Miss Chase. Mrs Dodge Mss
and Mrs. Ripley Hitchcock. Henry Prince. Mr.. and
Mrs. Bliss DR.. and Mrs. J. L. Barton. Mr. and