The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-12-22
good which we should always strive

good which we should always strive
to exert 49, IT,
In these days there is a growing
tendency to exaggerate and to mag
nifty even the most ordinary item of
news into something sensational Sto-
ries are played up" with big head
lines, the facts distorted or embellish-
ed with the Imagination, and this,
though not actually indulging In false
hood, perhaps is essentially deception.
This practice is held by those indul-
ging in it to be evidences of push,
progress and smartness, but nothing
is further from the truth, and while
some Of the public may be deceived
into thinking SO, the real Thoughtful
people look to conservative newspapers
for accuracy. Sensationalism may sell
papers, but you can't fool the people
all the time, and in the end they will
look to those journals with a reputa-
ton for conservatism and reliability
for their information and for guidance
in so far as they may be Influenced
by the opinions expressed in them.
The sort of journalism referred to
Is not only treating the public unfairly,
but it is a very dangerous and damag-
ing practice. Once we get the habit
of deception in dealing with news it
will become difficult to cast it away
when editorially it Is undertaken to
further enlighten the public as to the
trend and meaning Of current events.
The plain. unyarnished truth Is often
sensational enough-too much so
sometimes-and, while it may be Dress
ed up in fine writing, if You will, it is
strictly unethtcal and so recognized by
all honest newspapers to deceive in
tenttonally. Accuracy is the first great
and urgent demand required of every
honest and permanently successful
newspaper.
Another great principle Of Journal
1st1c ethics is that the Individual must
be treated with consideration and re-
spect. His character and good name
must be held sacred, his private af-
fairs inviolate. Ethical considerations
require the observance Of these princi-
pies in the first place, public sentiment
demands them In the second, and the
individual, in his part Of the country,
at any rate, is potent factor in en-
forcing them if there is any disposition
| to violate them. AS long as man re-
mains a private individual this treat
ment OF him is not only required in
practice, but is just and right. When,
however, one becomes a public charac-
ter through holding office or seeking
1t, then circumstances and conditions
may change.
There is a. popular idea that a pub
lie mans official acts are legitimate
subjects Of criticism only. This in
some respects is true, but it Is not
! rule without an exception. Public Of
J flce Is a public trust, and the manner
IN which. any man will fill that trust
largely depends upon his private char
acter. A corruptionist will not become
1ncorruptible by the mere fact that
he is placed in office by public favor
| or fact1onal politics. Dishonorable, I'M
trustworthy, immoral men do not have
their natures changed by the accident
of the ballot, and hence when an indi-
vidual becomes a public character not
| only his public or official affairs, but
his private acts and general conduct,
are the subjects of legitimate investi-
cation and criticism.
II he is found wanting, lacking in
that character and those high attri-
butes which would make him the
proper custodian Of the peoples moral
and industrial welfare, it is not I'M
ethical for newspaper to publish
| proved, unquestioned facts as to his
private life which will inform the peo-
pie of the manner of man he is and
what they may logically expect should
they confer their SURFACES upon him,
This Is not a license, as some are in
| clined to view it, but rather it is the
! bounden duty Of a conscientious, pub
TIC serving newspaper so to do. Such
so called license is a matter of almost
everyday occurrence in metropolitan
journals Of the highest standing and
responsibility. No popular indignation
Is melted thereby, nor do those so tat
tacked'-that being the word used by
the guilty-commit a greater crime be-
cause of any false notion that they
must maintain their honor at the ex-
pense Of shedding blood The people
! have been trained by the newspapers
| to realize that their course in this res
pect is for the public good, and they
therefore indorse, sustain and support
the papers in that particular.
We have hardly reached that stage
! Of development yet, for even in the
case of the vicious and dishonest if he
so happens to be of some prominence
and have a veneer of responsibility,
there yet turks an idea that to expose
him Is abusing the liberty Of the press
and taking unwarranted and unexcus-
able license with a private individuals
affairs. No good mans character can
be safer than in the keeping of South
| Carolina newspaper men, and it ought
to be equally certain that no bad mans
character, when it becomes a menace
to society. or when he aspires to at
tain public position, shall be free from
exposure or lie hidden from public
view because Of any prominence he
may have or Of a reflected respect
ability that may be his because Of
family connections or social relations.