The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-07-27


As TO PUBLICITY.
Several publications IN England.
mostly church. papers. have taken up
the question whether IT is advisable for
the details OF divorce suits TO be pub
lishcd. Some have taken the view that
the publication OF the details tends to
lower the moral tone OF the commu-
nifty. Others have said that the fear
of publicity is all that keeps many
persons in order, and that many a
family Is Kept intact that would be
separated and scattered about thu
world were Il not for the fear OF the
publicity that would ensue IL recourse
were had TO the courts.
II Is an old saying that no thief
e'er felt the halter draw with good
opinion OF the law" and Il II also true
that those who have the most to sear
from newspaper publicity are those
that are loudest in decrying IL. Those
whose actions VIII not bear the day
light scrutiny OF the press are loudest
in denounci1g the press for convert
ing liberty into license. The immoral
man or woman who seeks the news.
psDer Office that their acts may be
hidden from public gaze carefully
point out the harm to the community
n their acts are published. They
point out that they have a son or
daughter that will be disgraced il the
facts are printed They have moth
ing to say when asked why they did
not think OF that same son or dsuEh-
ter before they committed the act that
might bring disgrace
II Is a peculiar mind that attern pts
TO blame a newspaper for the disgrace
that may come TO some person whose
acts are matters Of news and privileged
for publication The disgrace can
come from nothing but commission OF
the act. not from the fsIct that IL Is
published. II the world is growing
better. and there is no question that It
IS. much Of the praise for this condi-
tion ought to. be. given to the news
papers who turn the searchIight OF
publicity into the dark places and
make them light as day. In many cases
Il is only necessary for the public to
know or an evil to demand and secure
It's removal at once.
IL Is well that the good people out
number the bad. Really. the bad peo-
pie are very few. But they exist. here
and there. Fear OF public exposure
keeps them in the straight and mar
row path. II It were possible to keep
secret the. peocadinoes OF the few. to
keep the community from recognising
the moral lepers who have shelved
husband or wife and helpless children.
the divorce courts would be working
overtime A secret divorce court
would work more harm in a conmu-
nifty IN a week than the harmful in
huence OF public proceedings. fully
exploited, could wreak IN a year.
Here and there a judge il found that
will seal the papers in a divorce suit,
and put the matter through in star
chamber session. Those judges are
few. and they are becoming fewer each
year. Publicity is a cure for most the
moral Ills 20 which human society IS
heir. President Roosevelt recognized
that when he provided for full pub
licity OF the work OF the bureau OF
corporations which his influence ere
ated. Is there any one who will deny
that this publicity has resulted in much
beneficial legislation since that timer
BY all means. let the light of day
shine Into the courts. Where you find
a man that objects to II. you find a
man that has something to hide.