Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-27
Is there Room for a Daily
christian Newspaper, and
can Il be made a Success?
Defects Of the Regular Daillss
Suggestions for Improve
msnts-Too Much Sensation.
aIism.
Nov as 10 MIR. sheldon's paper, II he

Nov as 10 Mr.. sheldon paper, III ne
brings Il up to the standard that Geo.
w. childs did the Philadelphia Led
ger, he will do well. have known
Mr. Childs to destroy an edition OF his
paper because some false statement had
crept into II. He would not letlthat false
statement go 10 the world, knowing II
to be so. Then, Instead Of being loaded
with doubleheads and guesses about an
election, for instance, Mr.. Childs waited
for the returns, and in the edition print
ed, gave only what was known TO be
correct.
Now | have no objection 10 news
papers, They average quite as good as
the people. But the newspapers should
not only express public opinion, they
should make IT, They should not only
suit the moral attitude Of a community
but should quicken II. Mr.. Chllds never
published a Sunday paper. His sub
scribers did not demand II. On Satur-
day he published the Sunday school
lessons. Don't you think they were
read? Why II came TO be that every
church IN Philadelphia published no.
tice OF It's Sunday services In the Satur-
day Ledger, and paid for II, while in
the Sunday papers not ten churches out
OF n hundred sent In their notices, al
though they were published free. The
point Of this little Illustration may be
easily seen.
1T Is idle to say that a newspaper
will lose It's patronage II II publishes
higher class Of matter. How do they
know what the public Will demand?
They have tried them on Just one line
sensatIonallsm. But higher class OF
matter II now being published and II
commends the publications TO the best
element OF the people, and Is a thorough
ly good move. To illustrate this do
not have to go far When the Deseret
News recently published Mr.. Sheldon's
In His Steps Il was a move In this
very direction. II showed willingness
TO present and popularize what is best,
and | was exceedingly glad 10 see 1t,
as we'll as TO note the second story now
running, The Cruclixion OF William
Strong
"In dealing with the conduct OF men
and women, the tendency Of the modern
newspaper, II seems TO me, Is to put
an evil Inference on. This should not be
done, In my opinion unless the circum-
stances are very strong. OF course the
newspaper has TO make some. very Wig
orous attacks. and that il so3heir cred
IL. They have been Of inntnense benefit
in many cities In breaking no corrupt
rings. In such cases they must be un-
sparing TO the individuals, for their
duty Is TO the whole community. Just
TO reflect public opinion Is not sufficient.
The papers should lead public opnion,
not follow IL. They ehould strive 10
tone up communities and TO tone up the
code OF laws.
"Will Mr. Sheldon succeed? ! think
so. lie Is practical man, and this
movement OF his. although II Is to be of
such short duration, will do much good.
Curiosity and other elements will give
his paper a wide circulation, and people
viii at least have a chance TO see what
a Christian daily newspaper may be.
When they do see that, isn't II possible
they may ask, Why cannot We have
this all the timer
What | have said is not so much in
criticism OF the newspapers as they are
as to suggest some Improvements that
might be made"
DIR, T. c. ILIFF.
DR.. T. c. Iliff, presiding elder OF the
Methodist church. said:
II have read Mr.. Sheldon's books and
this plan Of his as 10 Christian news
paper is one Of very great interest II
the intention were 20 publish Il per-
manently ] could hardly say without
giving IL some thought, whether or not
II would receive sufficient patronage TO
enable IL 10 live, but there seems 10 be
a field for II. The sectarlan papers are
circumscribed and do not cover this
field, while the regular daiies 60 In
for sensationalism to such an extent
that by widening the first and mar
rowing the second, the perfect might
be made feasible. II Is, anyway. a
move In the right direction, although |
must confess that ] am somewhat
doubtful II newspaper published on
the lines that Mr. Sheldon proposes
could be made a success"
PRESIDENT SILVER.
President Z. V. Silver, always one Of
the most enthusiastic Christian work. |
ers In the city, found time 10 give the |
News" his Views on Mr.. sheldons plan
and his ideas regarding the regular
newspapers
He said; Il have read with great In