The age-herald., 1899-03-16
Mrs. 0ckenden's Brilliant
 Paper at the Press Convention

Among the bright papers read at the press convention was the following on Clean Journalism,' by Mrs. I. M. P. Ockenden, of Montgomery, one of the very prominent women of the state:
 The light-winged, subtle thing we call a word is the voice of man bearing a thought
 Words are living things. Ink will fade, paper be destroyed, but words die not. Written or spoken, they spring forth from the throbbng heart or teeming brain to take root in other hearts and other minds and bring forth good or evil.
 We trace word" to the Latin ''verbum,' but the Saxon "wyord" Is more expressive. Wierd is the power of word and solemn its responsibility.
 Within the space of ten minutes cannot convey my conception of "Clean Journal ism." It may be called ideal, but to my mind 1t is a very real and practical d.sider- alum. My first assertion may be startling, but the facts strengthen my position, that the newspaper of 1899 has deteriorated from the stanuard of two decades ago. Words, like firearms, are too carelessly handled. The responsibility of the writer Is fully as great, morally, but 1t seems to be a less serious thing. The fashion of expression, being hurried, lacks dignity and beauty. If one indulged in slang, 1t seldom found its way into print and never into editorials. Now some of our brightest writers sacri- flee the dignity of the profession to the de- sire to amuse the general reader. Yet we claim that the newspaper is an educator. Instead of pandering to depraved tastes, the conscientious writer should work to de- stroy that diseased condition and break only good bread to the multitude.
 A reporter, with a keen scent for the hor- xph statements and style of expression would have ruined paper twenty years ago.
 Who are to be educated? The young. Who are to be entertained? The young as well as the old. Is the newspaper to be circulated in the upper or lower stratum of society? It is better to cast pearls be- fore swine than to turn the contents or foul sewerage pipes into the sparkling springs of pure water If 1t be urged that the masses must be reached, their tastes considered is 1t not desirable to uplift the fallen, to cleanse, to heal, to create more healthful desires, to foster purer tastes? We must not gratify the depraved appe- tite if we would save the patient.
 The newspaper is visitor admitted into the family circle. Shall it be clean or un- clean? With all due respect and sympathy for my fellow toilers of the pen, editors pub fishers, reporters, correspondents, contrlp- utors, I ask, how many of the papers Of
 
 pr girl? Today's papers openly advertise matters which were rigidly excluded, or most delicately referred to, even a decade ago. The young reporter is quickly de- moralized and enjoys the race for repu- tation for getting up sensations and horrors that are needlessly brought before the pub lie, cruelty exaggerated, too often regard less of truth; in some cases to be retracted or result in fatal consequences. The boast ed liberty of the press affords an open field for coarse freedom and unwarranted familiarity An item which might be dis posed of in a few words is enlarged, di- lated upon, distorted, used for the ground work of an immense fabrication, wherein the actors find 1t difficult to recognize themselves. The honest reporter Is ac- curate; he calculates the effect of his words for good or i'll, where the writer who calcu- lated the worth of an article by the amount paid per line is reckless in his statements ignores accuracy and has no regard for the feelings of others. He would ride over a child to be first at a fire. or pierce the heart of the unfortunate by intrusion upon his solitude with impertinent curiosity The newsboys grow too quickly familiar with the glaring headlines and shameessly yell them to the multitude. "There's nothing, l" said one of them Hike a rattling good mur- der or a stunnin' lie." Alas, the pity and the shame of it That beardess boy nat urally drifts into police courts, and from thence into dens of crime. If he continues in the business, he will become a scandal monger, an interruptions liar, a cunning swindler of justice. Journalism is largely responsible for youthful depravity Dis graceful affairs that should be denied space in decent journal are published in shock ing detail. The actors would be refused ad- mission into our families, yet the morn- Ing or evening paper introduces them by name into the home circle. Modern serials are not always harmless and are often bought by the pound, ready set, without examination, to be given in broken doses to eager readers. The newspaper is laid on the round table of home around which are supposed to sit the innocent. It is argued that the newspaper must keep up with current events. To this comes the rejoinder. 1t is impossible to publish all;