University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-03-09

editor in-chief. associate editor aii'
managing editor. his name now appear
i'm the Outlook IL, contributing editor
I-nder date of March ) he contributes
TO that publication his first signed edl
torial. entitled why | Believe i'll th'
Kind of Journalism for which the Out
look Stands" The editorial follows:
Il first came into close contact VIII
the Out look when Governor OF Ne"
York, ten years ago. and l >peedli!!
rrew to have IL peculiar feeling OF re-
spect for Dr. Abbott and his associates
We did not always agree. and as oui
convictions were strong our disagree
mcnts were sometimes positive: but eN'
pcrience taught me that. in the first
place. DIR. Abbott and his associates al
way, con,cientiously strove to be fair
and that. in the second place. they not
only desired to tell the truth. but made
Il serious cndcavor to find out the facts
| found. moreover. that they combined
to il peculiar degree II number of quail
tiles. each of them good. but rarely
found i'm combination.
Every owner. editor. or reporter of
con>cicntiou>ly and ably conducted
newspaper or periodical is an asset of
real value to the whole community. 1t
would be difficult to Overestimate the
amount of good which can be done by
the men responsible for such publica-
tion-re>pon>iblc for its editorial col
rlmn>. responsible for its news columns.
responsible for its general policy. We
have many newspapers and periodicals.
hi. and little. of this kind. But we
also have many that are emphatically
not of this kind
During the last few years it has be-
come lamcntably evident that certain
daily newspapers. certain periodicals.
are owned or controlled by men of vast
wealth who have gained their wealth
in evil fashion. who desire to stifle or
twist the honest expression of public
opinion and who find an instrument fit
for their purpose in the guided and pur-
chased mcndacity of those who edit
md write for such papers and periodi-
rails
Moreover. they are as far removed
As the poles from the apostles of that
hideouS yellow journalism which deifies
he cult of the mendaciou>. the sensa-
tional and the inanc. and which.
throughout its wide but vapid field does
Is much to vul@arize and degrade the
popular taste. to weaken the popular
haracter. and to dull the edge of the
popular conscience. is any influence
under which the country can suffer-
These men sneer at the very idea of
,aying heed to the dictates of sound
morality: a> one of their number has
put it. they are concerned
merely with selling the public whatever
he public will buy-a theory of conduct
which would Justify the existence of
very Keeper of an opium den. of every
oui creature who ministers to the vices
# mankind.
But they do deserve very great credit
or av"idin" another type of temptation
which has much fascination for men
# cultivation and of refined taste. and
which is quite a> fatal to their useful
less as indulgence in yellow journalism.
newspaper or periodical which avoids |
Il%ar scn>ationali>m. which takes and |
ultivatcS an interest i'm serious mat
crs. and things literary. artistic and |
cIentlfic-w which. in short. appeals to
rople of taste. intelligence and cult
ation--m may nevertheless do them !
rave harm. and he. within its own mar
DIV limits. an element of serious mis-
hief: for it may habitually and con-is-
entity practice a mali On and slanderous
which. though more re-
ned than. is at least aS immoral as.
ne screaming scn>atiOnalism of anv re-
re>entative of the journalism which it
fleets to dcspi>c. \ cultivated man Of
cod intelligence who has acquired the
mack of saying bitter things. but who
lrks the ROBUSTNESS which will enable
I'M To feel at ease anon" strong men
action. is apt. if his nature has i'm
anythin" OF meanne>~ or untruth
iinc>>. to strive for Il reputation in
hat l. to him the easiest wav. He
IN find no work which j. eaSicr-and
- worth doing than to lit i'm cloiS-
red aloofne>> from the men who wage
l" real and important struggles of life
nd to cndeavor. by an uncea sin" out
ut Of slander in regard to them. to
'l>ter up his own uneasy desire to be
superior tn them Now
'per edited by men of this stamp does
't have much popular influence. and
lerefore is less detrimental to the peo-
q at large than yellow journaliSm:
1t 1t may. to the extent of its power:
,ert very real influence for evil. bv
c way in which il teaches Young men
good education. whose talents should