The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-11
PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE
 MODERN NEWSPAPER
ReV. MT. Browns Interesting Dis
 course on the Local Daily Press.

OOuIS0 on the Local DallY HEcSS.
 FTattering tribute was paid to the
 modern newspaper by Rev. George M.
 Brown, pastor of the First Methodist
 a series Of Timely Talks" and a large
 congregation attended the service. MT
 Brown said that the modern newspa-
 per IS one of the wonders of the age
 It gathers an amount of news far be-
 yond what any one realizes. Since
 last Monday morning the newspapers
 sand columns up to and including the
 Saturday evening editions. This vast
 amount of news was given a circula-
 ton approximating 3O0.000 copies. The locaa press is very liberal Rev.
 MT. Brown thinks. Considering the
 amount of capital invested, the labor
 employed, the scope of the news cov- cred and the price Of paper left at our
 door. we cannot but marvel and at Tne same time rejoice that while the
 prices of so many other commodities
 that make life worth living are soar :. ing the newspaper is cheaper and bet
 ter ghan Seegity said ReH the NE press in supporting commendab1e en- terprises should be sincerely appreciat-
 ed. There is not church nor charit-
 not been beiefited far beyond compu- tation by their generous advertising.
 The winter Chautauqua assembly could not have been the success it was from the first if the papers of the city had not seen the worth of the idea and given it most loyal support" !" Rev. MT. Brown made the aSSer tlon
 that newspapers are a. great deterrent to crime. believing that many a man | is afraid to do some evil thing because | of the exposure that he knows is sure to follow. .1t is possible that some public officers are encouraged to be
 more faithful because they dread the results of newspaper criticism he said sSThis is one of the most legi-
 innate and useful provinces of the
 press. It owes it's exercise to the public upon which it depends for it's on a Board of Afdermens or in any committee or commission ought to be as publicly exposed as the man who
 sneaks an oyereoat from a front hall. The light ought to be turned onto every evil place and practice in in
 amss of the men ol wo on the no bd nde
 ings were published, half the battle would be won. And we prophecy that the day will come. The reluc. l tance of the press sometimes to assist l in such work is hard to understand. for no better advertisement for city l can be published than the announce daily papers that it shall be made a safer and better city in which to l live
 s.The daily press of this city is as clean as can be found anywhere and I may be a safe visitor for any home. Gross details of scandal are excluded. 100 nfucn CdnnOC De S610 III 0SpF0cIa- 1 tion of the class of papers that seem l to gloat over the sickening details Of some society scandal, and whose ad- vertise1nent depends upon it's own foul odor.
 A business man not long since was heard to give this characterization of
 our city papers: sWobbly. weak. reac- tionary and consistent Each de- scriptfon referring to a different paper. Of course our favorite paper is the consistent one. Consistent because at all times and upon all questions it interests of the people. It is indepen- dent enough to never cause a suspic- ion that it's policy is controlled by selfish interests. Surely it has to live Consistent, because 1t prefers to create public opinion and lead it to higher ground rather than to be exceedingly careful to know just how the public feels and then side with it. Big | newspap pers make public opinion and more than all of the ministers com bined to arouse public sentiment that shall demand the right How great they are when they say this is right influence.' But how dangerous they are when they swobb1e' or take the other sidei Then the interests of the people suffer.
 .sThe good newspaper should be shown sincere appreciation. When it takes a position for justice, truth and righteousness the men who rejoice in it should not be slow to encourage the editor with their avowed approval Many an editor hes been obliged to say T cannot fight this out alone, mo- body cares, what is the use?' and he gives up. the battle half won. This is another challenge to the 'good' cfti- gen.