The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-29

no regard for the public welfare, it is
sure to come to evil days. This is true
of the press as we'll as everything else
| Another evil of the present day press
is the unreasonable partisanship which
appears. This is not nearly so general
as in the past, but there are still some
papers who will call black, white, and
white, black in the interests of party
| suppose there must be partisan pa
pers, but we can at least demand hon
esty and Justice of them. Heaven help
! the town which has not at least one
good independent paper which is in
intent and in fact fearlessly independ-
ent.
/ Another evil charged against the
press, is that it is often owned or brib-
ed by interests opposed to the public
welfare How far this is true, | will
not attempt to say. | think that it is
the exception and net the rule, and
that it happens not nearly so frequent
! ly as some would have us think. 1t is
an evil which is true of the newspaper
no more than it is true of any other
business or calling. Perhaps it is worse
in its effects here than anywhere else.
Certainly any such paper ought to be
classed with the yellow journal.
One more evil charged against the
press. The comic supplement and in
fact, the whole Sunday edition.
T, think that the harmfulness of these
is often over estimated. l think they
offend chiefly in being vacuous and in
ane and so furnish little or nothing
worth reading on Sunday or any other
day. | hope and believe that they will
either die of senile old age or else
grow into something worth while. l
would like to see the latter come to
pass. 1 would like to see the Sunday
edition raised to the dignity of a great
magazine, having in it well digested
summary of the weeks events, with
wise comment thereon, good helpful
story or two, and certain amount of
wholesome fun in words or pictures.
Then it would be worth while.
First of all, avoid the yellow jour-
nal as you would the yellow fever.
That goes without saying. You can't
afford to take it into your family.
Second. Every home ought to take a
good newspaper. One that is conserva-
tive, but still bright and interesting and
full of news, one that consistently
stands for all that is brightest and best,
that is operated with sense of re-
sponsibility for the public welfare, one
life, but tells it in way that is help
full and cheering. Every news center
has one or more papers which approach
fairly well and sometimes almost
reaches this ideal good paper, and there
are few homes which are not within the
reach of such a paper and all ought
to take it.
Of course it will bring to your child
rem things which you would perhaps
rather they would not hear. But 1 do
not believe in bringing up children like
hot house plants, too carefully guarded
from everything because then when
they do come face to face with the
world, the world will overcome them.
When children are young and innocent.
, much of the worlds wickedness which
does appear in the paper will fall on
unheeding eyes and ears and when they
do begin to realize something of what
there is in life, you can take care that
their hearts are so filled with good
wholesome ideals of life that the evil
will not find much room to lodge and
! take root.
Third. Do not let the newspaper be
taken as the law and the gospel Re-
, member much of it's news is apt to be
only rumor. Wait till it is confirmed
before you believe it. Do not let the
newspaper be your only guide in form
! ing your opinion. You can usually fine
much better summaries of the news and
much wiser comment thereon in some
of the magazines like the Review of
Reviews and the Outlook.
Fourth. Cut out the Sunday edi-
lions as it is a waste of money. The
only thing of interest in it is the
base ball and foot ball scores, and you
can get those from central.
Fifth. Do not let too much time be
spent on the papers. Spend enough to
get the news so that you know what
is going on in the world, but no more
Any more time than that is a waste
of time, Moreover people who make a
habit persistently and diligently of read
ing the newspaper lose the inclination
to read or study anything requiring
more thought and concentration, and it
is worse than unwise to let the news
paper be your only reading.
Sixth But don't neglect your paper
1t is a reflection of the daily life OF
the world and that is worth study
ing. I think that if the newspaper is
admitted to the family on these terms
its influence will be for good and not
for harm.
Some people talk of government own
ed newspapers, government controlled
newspapers, or a strict censorship Of
the press, but 1 do not believe that any
of these things are practicable or de
sirable. What we do want and must
have is a deepened sense of response
bility on the part of the owners, man