The San Francisco call., 1896-03-03

Journalism" yesterday.
Mr.. Foster said:
We are becoming q nation of newspaper
readers People who have not time to read
books can snatch the. moments necessary for
the perusal of this lighter literature. The
power of a great paper is tremendous In any
community. Therefore the question "What is
its infuence?" may be answered by "Good and
bad"
1t is good in that it exposes crime and vice,
thus furnishing an example to eyll-doers. 1t
is good in the fact that it furnishes informa-
tion to all classes.
1t is bad because of its willingness to vilify
any one in the interest of partisanship.
The speaker stated that he had been
offered money to give the details of an
assault upon child whom be, the speaker,
had rescued from life of vice.
'Our own DR.. Brown" said he, "has not
received fair treatment" and in support
of his position stated that newspaper
had opened it's columns to comments on
the case by any one who chose to supply
them, the offer being taken advantage of
to the extent Of two columns of opinions.
He resumed:
l wish five things might be done. First, 1
would like to see patrons discriminate in favor
of the metropolitan paper whose sins are the
least in this line. Next, would have the re-
sponsibility placed where it belongs-not upon
the reporter or correspondent, but the editor,
who is the responsible head of the paper.
editors helped in a modest and legitimate way
in making up the paper with what is fragrant
and delicious.
Seventy-five thousand ministers and hum
dreds of thousands of church-gOing people in
this country ought to be ashamed that their
power is not more marked where there are
such opportunities for usefulness.
l would see that the editor received occa-
slonal notes from the subscribers-not such a
note as would insult him, but one commend
ing the good points and deprecating the bad
Last, would see good paper established by
endowment by some wealthy man If need be.
Captain Cook ridiculed the idea of a
paper being controlled by Stanford or
Huntington, and reaching the ideal up
held.
DIR. Hood said the American press was
diluting the public mind. He favored
condensations and said lessons could be
learned from the leading journals of
Europe.
John Kimball said the good things were
not exploited by the press. 'If man
behaves himself" said he, "the papers
| ignore him. Our Sunday papers go far
toward running the people. They are a de-
moralizing agency, catering to bad, low
tastes. If they go for lamb they will
| kill him."
DIR. Pond spoke words of praise and
regarded as its tendency to PREJUDICE sus-
| poets. 81 consider Durrant terribly
abused man." said he.
| Rev. Joseph Rowell thought it should
be made penal offense to publish paper
| of more than four pages. In his judgment
4 the press should be conservator of public
| morals.
Rev. William RAIDER observed that news
papers were not forced upon people. They
| usually come in answer to request in the
| form of subscription. II am a news
paper tiend,'' continued that gentleman.
Il read them carefully, and am sorry
| when l have finished. / believe it was
Brice who said San Francisco papers were
the worst published. / am sure he has not
seen the Bostoi, GLOBE, for instance. The
newspapers are an actual reflection of life.
/ think the wart on Cromwell's nose
should appear IN his portrait. The papers
made Talmage. They unmade Beecher.
They are keeping Ballington Booth and
his wife in this country. feel grateful to
the press. 1t is a friend to the church, the
ministry and the people,"
| Meyer Strauss believed the newspapers
held mirror up to nature. If politicians.
ministers and business men 60 wrong the
hideousness of their lives should be ex-
posed. "The press elevates,' he SAID. ut
| does not degrade"
Rev. w. II. Tubb considered the press
purer than the pulpit in some instances.
The idea of an endowed newspaper was
| Utopian. In these days of rampant vii
lainy it could not be exposed too much.
"The newspapers do their work for
money" said Rev. W. A. Tenney, 'but so
do preachers and farmers. We may reject
what we do not want. did not read the
Overman letters, because did not choose
| to-
H. II. Wikoff took exception to the state
ment that preachers worked for money,
and favored the idea of an endowed press.
DR.. Warren said he had never read
stronger condemnation of vices than in
the newspapers. Neither had he seen
stronger pleas for charities than in their
pages. 1--WE don't know what we are
talking about when we condemn the news
papers for chronicling events that have
actually transpired." said the doctor.
| j. A. Chamberlain spoke strongly for
the press. Rev. Philip Coombs consid-
cred newspaper reading harmful to chill
dren.
! Rev. J. B. Orr said the endowed news
| paper would not be sustained, even by
! its present advocates. "Do you favor an
expurgated edition of the Bible?" he
! asked; "yet you are advocating that for
| the newspapers"
! A letter from Presiding Elder Coyle,
| thanking the club for its offer of co-opera-
| tion in aid of DR.. NJ. F. Colburn, was read
~