The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-12-12
THE PATENT RECORD Baltimore, Md-
ABOUT PRINTING THE III.

"A Newspaper With a Proper Regard
Tor the Limits of Respectable
Journalism.
Spartanburg Evening Journal.
a demand is sometimes made for
newspapers hat tell the truth. Some
people refer slightingly to the contents
OF newspapers as being Of suspicious
character so lar as it's ~vcracity is con
cerned, and say hat
should stick closely to facts and tell
tne ruin, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth.
1t does not always suit to tell the
truth. The truth is sometimes better
lett untold. The same people who
complain because the do
not tell the truth also criticise the
newspapers for being too sensational
III the newspapers should print What
they know, there would be some sensa-
lions indeed. They would state some
times that "Colonel Blank, one of our
prominent citizens, is ill at his home
with the Jim jams" when instead they
very kindly say he ia ~indisposed, or
unwell. They might also chronicle
that Miss Sallie S%mithers, the home.
Hest and souriest tempered woman we
nave ever seen, has at last managed to
get married" when they CONSIDERABLY
describe her ss beautiful and amiable
M as the belle Of the town.
III they wanted to tell the truth they
could say that the Rev. Long Wind,
VINO preached an hour n u halt,
bored his congregation nearly to
DEATH when instead they describe his
sermon as u magnificent and powerful
discourse, which deeply moved his
hearers and held their rapt ~al.ent,oo,
When a husband or wife dies they
might sometimes say that q cat anu
dog existence has terminated" but the
NE OF the couple Is described as one
long, sweet dream.
lhen again there are many domestic
scandal that come to the ears OF the
newspapers, and many personal diff
culIles, and many rumOrs affecting the
OF various citizens that are
probably true that never find thei,
way into print because it will not d,
always to tell the truth. Serious hap
penings are sometimes minimized ano
uhlmportant events magniiied wher
the newspapers know perfectly wei
tnelr news value, but they cannot al
ways tell tho truth. 1t Is not the truth
that Is wanted. The some
times cannot afford to tell the truth
and the people concerned cannot afrorc
10 nave 1T told about them, and the
truth is, therefore, omitted. Some
politicians say the newspapers will no
tell the truth about them. For thi.
they ought to be profoundly thankful
Tor ii the truth were told about TIL
some OF then would find their politica
careers at 'an end and regulations
seriously impaired.
And all this consideration and sup
preston OF truth when 1T is damaging
Is rarely appreciated and the cry is tol
newspapers that will tell the truth
1t would take but one issue Of such {
newspaper to raise the cry louder thar
before to handle the truth cautiousl,
and In small quantities and we'll CLOSED
over. Knock down and drag out fights
damage suits, broken noses, heart,
and fortunes would be the features O
the day, and the truthful newspape,
would be suppressed, If 1t took q con
stltutional convention to accomplish
1t. The newspapers make their livini
by printing what their readers wan
TO read and that is not always thu
truth.