The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-03-26
POWER OF THE PRESS.
THE SOCIAL SCIENCE CLUB
DISCUSSES HOW TT WOULD
RUN A PAPER.
j. G. Wise, Jr., Reads an Able
Paper on the Influence and
Power OF Newspapers.

The numerous other attractions in
the city last evening doubtless took
the attention of many members or
the Social Science club, but there was,
Notwithstanding, fairly good at
tendance Mr.. John G. Wise, Jr.,
read an interesting paper on 1.-The
Influence and Power of the Press"
In his introduction of the subject he
stated that "the influence of an inde-
pendent, intelligent and honestly
conducted newspaper is uncompassed
and powerful, one of the most potent
instruments of good government and
everything that pertains to healthy
and advancing civilization. Un-
trammeled as to censorship. its in
fuence in shaping and directing gov
ernmental policy is greater than pos
sibly any other agency. To it the
public look for correct information,
honest criticism and unselish and
patriotic direction. Evil doors in
public and private life fear it's ex-
posures, and not infrequently those
whose inclinations trend to evil are
deferred, turned to the path of recti-
tude and saved'
He then traced the history of the
newspaper from the time of the pub
LEGATION of the first paper-the Pekin
Gazette-said to have been first pub
lished in 713, to the present day. The
struggles of the newspaper from its
earliest conception, with the crude
materials it had to work with, along
I'D to the present time with the per-
fected press, the type setting ma
chimes, telegraph, telephone, etc.,
were carefully noted and the grow
ing influence and power commented
upon. The growth of the freedom OF
the press is one of the most interest
ing features connected with it's his
tory, and that feature was closely
traced in this paper and many con-
troversies noted, and with the sue
cess that came in the fight for such
freedom, grew the influence and pow.
er of journalism. There are corrupt
newspapers, just as there are corrupt
men in all professions, but with he
growing intelligence of the age, they
have less and less influence with the
people.
Mr.. Nelson Weed opened the dis
cussion and sized up the newspaper
from the standpoint Of the outsider.
He found much to commend and also
much to criticise He thought there
was too much matter admitted to the
columns Of many newspapers unfit to
be taken into the homes where there
are children. Many newspapers do
not exercise enough care regarding
the advertising in their columns, es-
pecially that Of foreign nature.
Greater care in these directions
would, he believed, result in greater
influence from the press in general.
There was running discussion by
members of the club upon the subject
in general. Each one telling how he
would like to have newspaper run.
The general complaint was that
newspapers pandered too much to the
baser elements and wrote up the
worst features of the days events in
too catchy" a style. 1t was ad
mitted, however, that there was a
constantly improving tone in. the
press and general growing DISPOSE
tion everywhere to write up that
news which relates to the worst fea
lures of society in a manner to create
disgust rather than desire for such
matters. On the whole the "press
gang" was looked upon as very gooC
SET of fellows.
The next meeting of the club viii
be held on Tuesday evening, April 6
when W. e. Young will read paper
on "Tne True Theory of the State.