The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-15
INFLUENCE OF THE PRESS.

winds, whiCn may Teacu Saic NSt0NNs'
INFLUENCE OF THE PRESS.
Judging from the published state
ments In the Tillamook papers, the re-
cent election was characterized by vii |
liflcation and abuse. According to the
independent. the Tillamook Headlight
characterized the opposition candi- ,
dates as unfit to live In civilized COM
munity. Thomas Coates for mayor
received lis votes and his opponen,
90. The Headlight states that tine
citizen who voted for Coats are saloon
keepers, gamblers. card dealers and
their political pups" 1t calls one OF the
councilmen a thief. another a sa-
loon bum" and henchman Of Hadley's
and another thief and migrate.
Newspapers that will indulge in such
remarks are unfit TO be read In any
family. They are demoralizing to the
boys and girls, and are no better than
the Police Gazette and other obscene
publications. When newspapers Will
stoop to the lowest depths Of infamy;
delve down 20 the filthy cesspool OF
personal politics. they lose the respect
Of the respectable element OF society
They are totally unworthy to be classi-
fed as journals. unfit to be read by an
intelligent public.
The time for political mul-slinging
in this enlightened age is past. II Is a
relic Of the dark ages. 1t lowers every
newspaper that INDUCES in 1t IN th'
estimation of the public. No man Is
nominated for an Office that possesses
the characteristics charged in the I'll
Iamook paper. Most Of the men nomi'
mated have families. and such reading
Is offensive and when persisted in. pre-
vents many an honorable man accept
ING the nomination for office. 1t elimi
mates respectability from politics AM
fills public places of trust with poh
ticians. II insures enmity, encourage
strife and injuries the community Il
which such publications are allowed I
ex,st The fact that all men abuse
and villified by this Tillamook pois
tical outcast were elected, is a selt
evident fact that such methods will b
resented at the polls.
An illustration OF this was the enof
of Judge Parker to besmirch the cha
acter of President Roosevelt, accusin
him of receiving campaign funds fror
the various trusts. He made state
r,ents which he could not prove, an
This very fact drove thousands OF vote
10 President Roosevelt. The America
people will no longer tolerate muo
slInging in political campaigns IL
,rAmerican, II creates a preJudic
against newspapers and creates an I'm
.nression of their unreliability. In
influence for good Of newspaper
a community is destroyed. The edlto
is classed in the category of fools an
imbeciIes. 1t is pernicious In It's enec'
and demoralizing to the rising genera
tion.
A newspaper is mirror rehectih
the sentiments Of a community
should be. and If the Headlight article
reflect the sentiments Of the people
rylamook there is certainly a goo
acid for missionary work, and the ao
ontion Of stringent sanitary regt
lations.
A ,ewsnaner should rise above part
san politics, especially in local eie'
tions An election was held in Astori
yesterday, and the Astorian did III
aav one unkind word against any
the candidates, no matter what tne
no,,tical belief may be. A neWspap'
abould try and elevate the conditioi
Of society and the community.
should cater to the refined ana ihteli
cont with the purpose OF bringing u
,ore ignorant up to higher standal
of morals, and teach them thelr ou
to society. The highest plane OF NOR
InAuence should be exercised, ana IN
vb,ch tends to degrade humanity elm
mated from its columns. Tne pape
today having the most influence a
those that are educational in tbs
tendencies; that try and build up
cietv. not tear 1t down. When new
aners realize this their influence
rood will be felt and their worth a
nrecisted. A newspaper that repr
cents the low and vicious element n
no standing even among that cia
partisan newspaper relying upon Y
uscation and abuse Of their opponer
nave no standing. and exert no INN
ence only condemnation from lne
spectacle element Of botn par'i