The Republican journal., 1907-05-16
THE ETHICS OF JOURNALISM.
The W. c. T. US Fight for Purity in the
Home and Society

The W. C. T. US Fight for Purity in the
Home and Society.
The National Woman's Christian
Temperance Union has inaugurated a
concert of action for the ethics OF
journalism, through its department OF
work for Purity in Literature and Art,
of which Mrs. Emile D. Martin of New
York city is the Worlds and National
superintendent. Mrs. Martin writes:
After fifteen years of organized work,
it is an encouragement that the Presi-
dent of the United States would bar
from the mails unexpurgated accounts
of the particulars of the Thaw case.
and that one of the United States dis
trict attorneys, Henry L. Stimson, has
threatened the papers with criminal
proceedings for violation of Section
1898 Of the revised statutes regarding
mail matter. Attorney Stimson further
states that the mere fact that such
matter purports to be an account of a
judicial proceeding, furnishes no ex-
cuse for violation of the statute in
question.
A leading New York paper, through
its officials, recently pleaded guilty to
publishing indecent advertisements in
violation of the statutes concerning OBJ
scene books, pamphlets, pictures, pa
pers, etc; yet many newspapers re-
Ceived i'll our homes today are violating
hese same statutes.
When such violations are discovered,
W. G. T. [. members should call upon
the editors or write to them, and in
duce others to call or write, using their
influence for the suppression of that
which degrades and demoraliZes. When
these means fail, bring the matter to
the attention of the postmaster general
and the district attorney.
where one person reads book, FIVE
thousand read newspaper. With its
telephone anneXes, all the world twice
day passes in review" The power of
the press should be used to stem the
swelling current of details of crime, and
advertisements both medical and fraud
ulent that pamper to morbid conditions.
An encouraging feature in this fight
for purity in the home and society and
for the suppression of evil reading is
the attitude of the National Editorial
Association, expressed in the following
resolutions;
Resolved, That the National Editor
ial Association of the United State s
earnestly sympathizes with the wo-
mans movement for the promotion of
purity in literature and art, as tending
to maintain the moral standard and en-
deavoring to realize the prime object of
the press-the elevation and better
ment of humanity intellectually, moral
ly, and socially; for the suppression of
sensationalism, cruel personalities, and
immoral details in the reports of vice
and crime, which tend only to degrade
the moral standard of the community,
often melting to the reenactment Of
the horrors thus depicted; and that we
will further endeavor to make the press
one of the trueSt and best friends of
humanity by refusing space to all ques-
tionable and impure advertising, also
excluding from our writings and doings
the untruths and half truths, which are
often more dangerous and often have
more of poison than unmarked vice, be-
cause of the pure alloy which promotes
their circulation"
The International League of Press
Clubs has reaffirmed the action of the
National Editorial Association; also
passed the following:
"Realizing the important place the
press assumes as one of the great educa-
tional influences of the day:
Resolved, That it shall be our earnest
effort in the future, as it has been in
the past, to assist the guardians of the
home in their endeavor to send forth
from thence such citizens as will guide
and guard the best interests of the fire.
side in every land; as tending to the
uplifting of humanity, which leads at
last to peace purity and truth
State and Territorial Editorial Asso-
Citations have passed resolutions to raise
the moral tone of the press. The motto
in an appeal to editors or associations
should be: ''To exalt virtue above COM
mercial interest" Emerson said: ''The
truest test of civilization is not the Gen.
sus or the crops, but the kind of men
the country turns out
Resolution of the National W.C.T.U.
Whereas, Many of the magazines
and newspapers of the day carry adj
vertisements of alcoholic liquors and
also other advertisements and pictures
which should not be allowed to enter
the home; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we will choose fol-
our homes, so far as possible, the news
papers and magazines which exclude
such advertisements; that we will, how.
ever, in spirit of frankness and kind
ucSS, dSk puUIiSucIo huu cUlCOIS W cA-
clude from their publications objection
able advertisements; moreover, we will
demonstrate against such advertise.
ments and pictures being posted in pub
lie places, believing them to be demon
aliZing; and we consider that it is the
duty of town and municipal authori.
ties to prevent such displays on bill.
boards or in other public places"
Right thinking by the individual is
the basis of righteous nation. The
mind must have the best nutrition fol-
right thinking. 1t is timely to consider
pure intellectual food as we'll as other
pure food; for '"as man thinketh in
his heart, so is he'' Paper is as patient
as Job; it gives back all it receives.
| The censorship of. public opinion re.