The bee., 1897-04-15
WAR IS ON.
Reputable Newspapers, College
Presidents and Others Work.
ing up a Great Popular
Movement
AGAINST OFFENSIVE JOURNALISM

past two weeks the newspaper war
has been on in deeper earnest and
has taken new and more serious
turn against the exemplars of the
so called "new journalism" which
has become very offensive to decent
people and aroused their strong an
tagonism. Months ago Charles A.
Dana the venerable editor OF the
SRn commenced crusade against
what he called "new journalism. :"
Other papers joined In the crusade
and as result of the publicitythus
given, ministers began to preach
against "new journalism" and IL
braries and clubs passed resolutions
and orders prohibiting the exhibit
bitition of the offending newspap.
ers.
The other day the Commercial I'D
0erfisey published nearly a page of
interviews with college presidents
on "new journalism" Some OF
the comments of these educators
are as follows:
q. Schurman, the president of
the Cornell University, said:
Newspapers are today among our most
potent educational agencies. They may
strengthen and elevate or weaken and de-
base the intellectual and moral tastes and
powers of the people. The chief
trouble is with their news columns Here
fhpxy nil Of g.
they do not report actual facts, but serve
up instead sensational stories: secondly.
they do not distinguish sufficiently between
events which are important and events
which are unimportant. and thirdly, they
evince an increasing prediction for sensa-
tionalsm, lubricity and the gutter. Cure
these evils and we shall have healthy and
a helpful press But how1 | answer
Let editors and managers take higher views
Of their vocation, and let the public refuse
to patronze. either as subscribers or as adj
vertisers, our corrupt and corrupting Jour
nails, and so kill them by starvation.
Andrew V. Raymond, the presi-
dent of Union College at Science
tady, wrote:
If some journalists are beyond the reach
OF moral influence. journalism itself always
yields sooner or later to the financial argu-
ment. Such popular agitation as will lead
to the withdrawal of patronage especially
from the advertising columns. seems 20 me
to be the surest way to deal with the pres
ent question.
]. M. Taylor, the president of
Vassar, wrote:
1t IS impossible to condemn too strongly
/ ha ali I AaA Al.
lie under the pretense of satisfying il. A
change must come. The law is better than
violence. Unless the law Restraints
them there is danger that parties abused
will take the law into their own hands.
I. Cannon, S. ]. president of
St. Johns College, of Fordham,
said:
Obedience to the recent letter Of Leo
XIII on the reading Of bad books is the
only remedy | know for this particular
form of widespread degradation OF morals
which bodies i'll for our country.
b. L. Whitman, president of
Columbian University OF Washing
ton said:
Nothing will cure the new journalism
but the grace OF God. and nothing else is
likely to curb it buta public taste that will
make scavengering Improbable.
Matthew II. Buckham, president
of the University OF Vermont,
wrote:
Rally the moral sense of the community
so that both advertisers and purchasers
will establish such moral and financial
boycott against il that all decent people
he NJ 10 IL.
into the haunts OF vice along with its COM
rades OF the low and immoral press.
F. w. Boatwright, president Of
Richmond college, said;
The evils OF the new journalism have
not been exaggerated. They are as per.
vasive as they are corrupting
Edward d. Eaton, president OF
Beloit college, wrote:
Reverence and self-control are pillars OF
the republic. Newspapers should be great
educators OF public taste and morals
The new journalism imperils all these
intrests and menaces personal and national
welfare.
80, also, wrote the secretary o.
the faculty of Colgate University
He SAID:
The license OF the so-called new journal
ism IS deplorable, and a menace to the
morality of the community.
E. M. Cravath, president of Fisk
University said;
License of journalism that disintegrates
and imperils the foundation of permanent
and wholesome social development must
be resisted and curbed by an aroused pub
lie sentiment which will make il both dis
honorable and financially Improbable. and
by the enactment of wise and stringent
laws and their rigid and impartial enforce
ment.
]. D. Moffat, president OF Wash
ington and Jefferson College,
wrote:
If new journalism" means freedom to
reveal the sins and folies which are done
in secret and should be kept concealed
from the curious crowd. then it is democrat
lzing and one of the DEVILS best agencies
Decent people ought to withdraw all
patronage and publicly condemn such
papers. The sending of few prominent
editors TO the penltentiary for indecency
might deter host of imitators.
Thomas Fell, president of St.