Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-25
The Newspapers Responsibility.

Forward Movement met a gathering
of Maine newspaper men at an in
formal dinner at the Falmouth Hotel,
Portland. Those at the table were:
II. F. Rood @. Walden Smith, Rev.
Charles NJ. woodman. George ".
Norton. d. NJ. Kinsley. VIM. II. Dow,
Francis l. Littlefield. James F. Bige-
low. a. \. Head. Waterville: G. E.
Chadhourne. Augusta: D. W. Hoegg,
Jr.. Warren c. Jeffords, Joseph p. Me
Convi.le, \. c. Reed. E. a. Moore, O
p. T. Wish, Rev. DR.. Joseph x VII
son. After the tables had been cleared
Mr.. Rood was formally introduced and |
spoke for about half an hour upon the
influence Of newspapers upon modern
life, or Newspaper License.
Dnring the evening Mr. Rood gave
valuable information regarding the
movement in answers 10 questions by
the assembled newspaper men,
Mr. Rood brought home 10 the news
papsr men. their responsibility to the
public: their great power for good. or
the merciless strength OF their en-
couragement Of evil. He contrasted
sharply The newspaper which deals
honestly with its people and endeay-
ors TO lead them up to higher moral
plane, and the organ Of sensational
features which is published 10 attract
the thonghtiess and thus create wide
spread carriage for advertising. He
dwelt upon this latter class of news
papers which appeals to abnormal
passions and misunderstood yearnings
Of orr young when they are at an age
at which it is most dangerous to
then-naudlin appeals to ungrasped
sentiment in advice 10 Young Girls
and Letters 10 the Levelorn''; pages
'.shri6king with crime and reekins
with slime; surcharged with lasciyious
details of marital intrigue and deeep-
lion. of lowest forms of animalisn
brought out in divorce cases" until
the whole conception of life is distort-
ed in the minds of the young. He
said this sewage journalism lends it
self, also, TO the creating and foster
ing Of class hatred. of suspicion of
everything that is good and pure.
MIR. Rood termed such newspapers
school of depravity." He said they
infiamed the hatred and suspicious
of workingnen as wen as employers
and the general public; in fact they
were q moral blot upon Christianity
that must be wiped out by public
opinion and forceful demand AS an
instance OF what public verdict can
accomplish he said
IF you think it impossible to arouse
public opinion sufficiently TO man
handle disreputable newspapers, and
compel them to cease their dangerous.
practices, kindly remember what has
happened during recent years in re-
gard to liquor advertisements in the
weekly and monthly periodicals. 1t
was not so long ago that even the bet
ter magazines derived heavy revenues
from SUCH ddSti A4ltil Gle1l Ntd
"a wave of opinion against the liquor
traffic. From all over the country
came letters written by subscribers
protesting against liquor advertise
ments in magazines which came into
their homes. The magazine publishers
sat up and began to take notice. Fol-
lowed quickly letter after letter from
other advertisers, also protesting
AGAINST the pages and haif-pages oil
space paid for and used by those en-
gagged In the LIQUOR business. FINALLY
these general advertisers, one by. one
here and there, notified publishers tina
If any more liquor advertising wa'
accepted they would withdraw thei
own advertising.
at does not require an UNUSUALLY
powerful imagination TO see the re
suit Today, gentlemen. where car
yon find high-elass magazine in th'
United States-cven an ordinary re
spectacle agazine-which would ac
cept a line of liquor advertising a
double or treble it's usual advertising
rates, or at any price whatever
In these things, listening newspaper
men recognized truth and found 3
hope that this Men and Religion For
ward Movement would make itself
felt in framing and expressing public
opinion: that the manhood Of America
would voice the needs and point the
dangers in the civic fabric, and would
deal with immoral. vicious and danger
Gus newspapers as it deals with i'm
moral shows and impure foods.
Here is a great problem with practi
cal means at hand for its solution
get together all the better forces o
society to cleanse the civic atmosphere
Divided Christian forces and petit
5ealoasies Of each other have for cen
turtles proven the devils most effec
tive weapon. Practical men becom
disguised with the narrow views {
so-cailed leaders who can see onl
that part Of heaven in which they e.
peet 10 find their departed friend
copyrighted.