The Washington herald., 1910-04-30

irreverence and lawlesness, by ridiculing
home discipline. by making fun Of age.
good breeding. and all the pleties and
amenities which go TO make the family
the most important OF human institu-
tons" To betray. to be untruthful.
brutal, revengeful-these are the lessons
Of the comic supplement
Boston Herald Drops II.
More than a year ago the Boston
Herald did away with its comic supple
ment and was warmly praised editorially
for sound judgment and good, hard busi-
ness sense. This last Notwithstanding the
fact that the excuse advanced by news
papers for the continuance of the sheet
is largely a commercial one. In July,
1909 the Herald published the following
editorial: Eight months ago the Herald
abandoned its/comic supplement in recog-
milton Of growing dissatisfaction II had
no difficulty In finding substitutes for its
coiored pages. Not only has the aban-
donment been praised by social and other
organizations and individuals whose in
terest is general. but the approval from
the homes into which the Sunday Herald
enters has been the most convincing evil
dence that colored comic is not essential
even to the amusement Of children. II is
an unfortunate estimate OF the American
people that assumes that the grosser and
lower is the most popular. We believe it
worth while to recognize a different
standard of popularity. The demand for
the comic IS overesumated."
The foregoing il important, in answer
ing the common fallacy that the public
demands such amusement as the supple
ment affords or that the public enjoys
the stun which Is printed, and II can
be said advisedly that the professional
standing OF a present-day paper can and
should be gagged by its attitude toward
/ the supplement.
Papers OF High Class.
A more dignihed and scholarly news
paper than the New York Post is not pub
lished IN the United States; the Sun,
too. Of the same city. with its catholic
sweep Of foreign and domestic news. its
trenchant. ironic editorial criticism. is not
surpassed among the Sunday papers Of
the country: the Herald Of Boston. and
few others. all maintain a high stand
ard and big circulation without the aid OF
what has been styled "our national
peril by students OF juvenile crime
Much has been done by the Interna-
tional Kindergarten Union and kindred
organizations 10 direct attention TO the
evil Of these cheap. catchpenny devices
to increase circulation and emphasize its
demoralizing effect upon the minds and
tests OF children. The I. X. L. recently
proposed concerted effort to secure a
wholesome page. Just here it might be
well 10 add parenthetically that editors
are not wholly 10 blame for the main
tenance of the supplement Editors are.
largely men of ability with a Jealous re-
gard for the standards and ethics of their
profession. Ii is to the publisher you
must look for the policy Of a paper and
the character OF its contents. Some
weeks ago the writer addressed a letter
10 several editors Of comic supplement
newspapers asking them TO state what
argument other than a commercial one
was advanced by the staff for the con-
tinuance Of the comic. The letters. while
addressed 10 the editors, were replied 10
by the publishers, and the reply from one
which has least excuse In PHILADELPHIA
for the maintenance of the supplement
is so manifestly an evasion Of the pointed
question that 1 will ask your indulgence
10 quote il IN full.
Dear Madam: Your letter Of the twelfth ad.
dressed 10 DR.. --- lEditorl has been referred
% the publisher
The question of comic supplement IN the
sunday newspaper has been source Of very
serious consideration II anything that borders
on Uulgarty. OF imUOrriety or that suggests any
breach Il good manners OF good morals is per-
mitted IN the comic supplement il ought 10 be
very greatly rerrobated because a newspaper must
hrst regard the character and quality o. what Il
issues irrespective Of any other consideration. II
the comic supplement suffers none Of these de-
Euquenccs and seems 20 meet with great popular
favor. we should not regard il as any violation
Of good newsIaper ethics 20 make use Of H.
Very truly yours