The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-25
MAINTAIN SUICIDE.
IS PRIVATE AFFAIR
Committee of Physicians Requests
Newspapers to Refrain From
Publishing Such Matter.
STRONG LANGUAGE is USED
Press Of the United States Is Ac-
cused Of Being Accessory
to Crime.
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
Los ANG ELES. Cal. June 2A-"Sui
eide is private affair. There is nc
more Justification for the publication OF
such accounts than there Is for publish
Ing other private matters.
This Is the assertion of 81 committee
of the American Academy OF Medicine
which investigated the question of sui.
day. requested The press OF America tc
affairs
III, however" the report declares, "the
members OF the press ere still skeptica
as TO the, fact that they are now ac-
cessorics TO crime, we suggest that they
assist in the study OF the conditions,
Your committee finds that alienlsts
are practically unanimous in the opinion
that the suggestive effect OF the reading
OF details OF suicides is powerful factor
cepuole individuals" says the report.
Newspaper men. while admitting that
The aiienists are OF the opinion that such
publications are a cause of crime and
even admitting that there may be some
truth In the opinion. reply that it is
within the province OF the papers TO pub
lish the news All attempts TO prevent
such publication are invasions OF the lib-
erty OF the press. They say that the
people demand the news and II must be
given them.
Attempts to Legislate Useless.
Attempts at legislation are practical
~ useless unless preceded by such popu-
lar education a. will cause a general de-
mand for the legislation. and will assist
In the enforcement of laws when en-
acted.
Believing that the newspaper frater-
nifty would be first To aid when convinced
OF the Importance OF the subject we
have begun general study OF the facts.
which Is made part OF this report.
After the publication of a spectacular
suicide by jumping from a high place in
Chicago. displayed upon the front page
OF chicago papers. several similar at
tempts were made within a few days"
The report mentions several other In
stances OF attempted suicide following
publication OF stories Of suicide. The
question Is asked. How much is the
press to be blamed for homicides as well
as for suicides? Are they not accom-
plices in the crimes?"
No Possible Excuse.
''1f a shocking accident occurs there
Is at once congregated a mob who gloat
over the sight. 1t is the same class. and
those only, TO whom the press caters
There Is no possible excue. The plea
Of 'news' is makeshift. In a large pro-
portion OF the accounts of deaths from
other causes, no mention is made OF the
cause. Why do not the papers get the
details, and publish minute descriptions
Of the suffering and death OF victims of
abortion? There might be some excuse
for this. for the patients are criminals
who have submitted while apparently In
full self control. and such publication
might help to stop the crime.
THE present decadent condition of the
press of the United States Is often men
toned. There is hardly a daily issued
which Is an honor to this country. Much
'f the 'news' is such as might better be
eft unpublished. The papers make
domestic scandal and divorce popular.
Is II considered highly respectable. They
publish the detail of n robbery or q muir
Ter as II the criminal were TO be ad = |
nired for his skill, Is IL true that the |
people demand such news? We doubt 1t.
Request to Refrain.
In conclusion we. as defenders OF the !
lealth and morals of the community. re- |
rom further publication OF such affairs |
Ne ask the editors 10 mentally place |
themselves as members of bereaved fam
lies. and 10 consider II. in making such |
they are doing as they would |
&c done by.
re still skeptical as to the fact that they
nc not accessories 10 crime. we suggest |
hat In each city the papers agree to |
cfraln from such publication for |
month. Then that all simultaneously
ublish an account OF one such case,
ith suitable headlines. Again refrain
rom further publication of such cases
or Il month. In the meantime let them
eep accurate statistics as TO the cases
nd methods, with the dates. In the tor
itory covered by their patronage. and
resent conditions. We suggest that
hese data be sent TO the officers OF the
cademy as a basis for further study
the results show a direct relationship.
urther persistence in their publication
hould be recognized as criminal