The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-04

faid. that he had allowed no Detroit
Newspaper in his home but The Times
einte the Kellogg divorce case was
stated In the circuit court. lie de-
clared that he had excluded the News.
Journal and Free Press because OF the
9th they printed in connection with
the case and would keep them out
Euntfi they were fit 20 place before the
Family.
Ia, his address, Friday evening, the
bishop dealt with the subject from
fwofold point of view-the newspa-
per's function 10 print current news
and its function In commenting on the
news in an editorial way. The ideal
raper the bishop said, was the one
thai investigated for facts as sclen-
Is fist would search for material, ana
then reported them clearly and Win
PROPER portion, as an expert witness
would testify on the witness STAND
under oath. The daily paper was a
s mirror OF current events and must
reflect the evil of the world, but It
should report crime so as not TO APP
neal 10 the young imagination. The
l,Apers OF England were an examne
~ follow in this respect. They treat
4 cd terminal matters in as unattract~e
manner as possible.
Yellow journalism was an American
product, fathered by Pulitzer IL was
= policy calculated 10 reach certain
class of trade and circulation, pan
dering to popular desire for excite
meht. The system included under
paid. inefficient and unintelligent re-
norters, with the result that public
nffairs and men suffered, sporting cd
itors being assigned TO ecclesiastic
matters. etc, with disastrous and en-
harrassing results 70 the men inter
viewed and quoted.
Then there was the custom OF vel
INV journals to cater 10 certain ad'
vertisers by the suppression Of facts.
Social conditions were ''coloreda TO
e,,it the men, who paid TO use the adj
vertising colnmns There was also
the practice i'm yellow journalism 10
tffstort facts when news was dull. the
making OF stories out OF whole cloth,
But what the bishop considered
nbout the most grieyous practice OF
The yellow iournuls was the invasion
OF homes in times Of calamity and dis
lress. He cited instances OF unfor-
funates 70 show how hearts Of dis
tressed persons had been oyerburd-
ened with grief because OF undue
publicity being accorded their failings
OF those Of friends II should be the
aim of newspapers to show sympathy
under such circumstances, to cater
70 the pure mind rather than the eX-
1citable and impure. ....<
AS remedy for the evils OF yellow
Journalism, the bishop suggested a
more drastic libel law. In England,
there was free speech In which even
anarchy was allowed 10 be publicly
discussed, but the newspapers never
took liberties with peoples names or
characters Because Of the unlimited
free speech in England there were. no
explosions or other anarchistic ont.
breaks. Ia America, the authorities
wouldn't even let Emma Goldman
talk but the newspapers attacked
people with impanity. -
In conclusion, the bishop suggested
the Intervention Of advertisers and
householders as a means Of stopping
the publication Of saIacious and ev
citing details of criminal aud divorce
cases, ~ lie Was sure such a protest
would be effective.
The Rev. James T. Black, pastor oil
Bethany Presbyterian church. Is an
ether Detroit clergyman, who has ex
Guided from MS home all The ioea
newspapers but The Times He made
this announcement during The Thanks
aiYing seTkices. ThnrgFaY. - -.