The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-01-30
WHAT IS FIT TO pRINTY

The question, What is fit to print
especially with reference to the greater
crimes, has been a more or less prom
inent subject for discussion, in recent
years, and is still unsettled. Natur-
ally, it is one which opens up an al
most limitless debate, because it has
to do with that great product called
'news," as we'll as with the conflict
ing tastes, opinions and desires, of
both publisher and reader. The
question, perhaps, is both indefnable
and interminable, in many of its de-
tails. and yet in many others there
need exist but little difference of opin-
ion.
There will always exist certain
newspapers which cater especially to
the depraved elements of humanity,
but these we need not consider there
is another class, commonly described
as yellow" which delights in the
poster style Of catching the eye and
the slangy style of interesting the
mind, and this class, also, we will
pass by, for the reason that the read
ing public can easily avoid the reading
of such papers. if it desires to do so
but, the average newspaper aims to
be clean and respectable and it is this
great class that the question, "What
is fit to print?" applies to with the
greatest importance, because such pa
pers are the ones that we must read
in order to keep posted on the news
of the day
Such ewspapers are commercial
enterprises, first of all. They are
published, especially to merit the sup
port of certain constituencies, partly
political, perhaps, and to cover GER
tain field. They are not, as a rule,
representatives of any particular code
of morals, or religion, yet pretend to
be both moral and religious, in a
general and allowable manner; in
other words, as clean newspapers.
While independent, in a sense, they
must, of necessity, meet the general
approval of their clientage-they
must earn and deserve business.
. We are of the opinion, therefore,
that such newspapers are easily sus-
ceptible to outside influence, oncet that
influence is clearly manifest, and right
here the question Of ''What is fit to
print?" attaches responsibility to
readers. Left alone, the newspapers
will decide; under pressure, they
will let the readers decide. 1t is
question of business. The newspaper,
like the merchant, mas a stock in
trade to sell, and that stock will be
such as trade demands; no concern
of any sort can long remain III bust
ness without supplying the class Of
goods the people want.
From a newspaper, one naturally
expects news" even the news of
criminality. Without doubt, the
publication of the evil deeds of some
may have a deterrent effect on others,
especially when crime is followed by
punishment. The violation of law
cannot be classed as something unfit
to print, in most cases-there are,
however, many clear exceptions
cases which should neve, appear in
print. But, the publication of crime
should never be given as an unfortu-
nate necessity, and never as a desired
feature. The good reasons for pub
lication of crime should always out
number the good reasons for its sup
preston.
Criminal cases should never be
made special features. The details
of evidence, and uncovering of inde-
cent facts, arerarely, if ever, ,justifable.
1t is unnecessary to publish all the
facts in connection with violations of
law, especially those, which, in
sense, make crime entertaining. The
main facts only are justifable, and
should be sufficient even to those who
want all the news for after all there
is class of so-called news, which is
not news "ft to print" just as there
are things in every community best
for people not to know, consequently
best for decent people not to tell.
It is never the mark of respectable
ty for man or woman to tell an in
decent story, voluntarily, for the sake
of gratifying the depraved tastes of
listeners, and newspaper is not ex-
empt from the same rule, unless it
voluntarily sacrifices itsrespectability.
A newspaper is simply an individual,
telling the news of the day in print !;
it is not responsible for the ugliness
of what it is called upon to tell, but
it is responsible for telling, and per-
haps celebrating, more than the ma.
terial ugly facts. 1t is not criminal
facts that the best people object to,
but the efforts of the scavenger in
aiming to make his story contain all
the minute details, such as are desired
by those always ready to listen to and
applaud an indecent story.-CayyoH
Record.