The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-02-21
MAKING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS
Rt Rev. Bishop Schrembs of Toledo, Holds Community
Responsible for Yellow Journalism and Immoral
Shows, the Chief Corruptors of Youth


what the man is; take his words for
All Read the Press
"In this day all read the press.
The tot has his daily paper. The
newsboy sings out the headlines and
between sales reads the juicy morsel
beween the headlines. We cannot
help but be Influenced by what we
read. What is the influence of the
press in the moulding of the thought
and character of the masses? Alas,
it is most regrettable. 1t is destruc-
tive of good morality. 1t is a school
of vice by it's suggestion of crime. I
know the press will defend itself with
the time-worn plea, we must give the
news Honestly, do you think it le-
Ultimate news to barter away the rep
utation of man or woman the mo-
ment an accusation is made against
them and before they are brought to
, trial. An accused person is tried in
the forum of the press before he APP
pears in court. If they can't find
something to bring against the ac-
cused they will fabricate it. Is it le-
Ultimate news to give the details of
crime for prurient readers? Is it le-
Ultimate news to print the imprint
able things said in court sessions,
things that bring the blush of shame
to all who have not lost the last ves-
tige of manhood or womanhood? Can
the press not give other news be-
sides the news of crime and scandal?
Are not these things going to move
us? Are not these things going to
have an influence on the youth?
Blind to Their Own Shortcomings
While the newspapers frequently
start propaganda against various
forms of criminality they are strange
ly blind to their own shortcomings.
l am not afraid to declare that so
per cent of the most brutal crimes are
due to the effect upon degenerate
minds of suggestions in the reports of
crimes in the newspapers. Ask the
men who commit these crimes where
they got their criminal ideas and they
will tell you it was in the crime COL
umns of the press. In the trial of the
car barn burglars in Chicago it came
out that every detail Of the crimes
committed by these young men had
been read by them in the newspapers
before they set out on their criminal
careers. Revolving details of crime
and degeneracy are not legitimate
news. We ought to demand the elm
nation of such yellow Journalism
from our respectable papers Let
there be a sensational murder trial
or nasty divorce case and every news
paper in the country becomes a yellow
journal"
The Bishop spoke of the flood of
trashy novels on the market, making
particular mention of the demoraIiz-
ing literature in cheap form sent to
this country from France He said
the public would be Mortified if 1t
knew Of the extent of the business
done in this country by book dealers
who sell corrupting literature.
Evils of the Stage
when I come to speak of the
stage" said the Bishop. Il fear 1 am
opening a cesspool the stencil of
which is nauseating. I wish you could
come with me and stand at the door
of the playhouse have stood there
often-and see in the faces of those
who come out the reflex of what has
gone on inside. Do you think it pos
sible to have boys and girls Of tender
years impressionable hearts and vivid
imaginations, feast their eyes on
scenes of gilded, phosphorescent de-
pravity and not be Influenced there
by? Why children actually steal PEN
MES to get to see cheap and democrat
izing shows. And the community is
sitting back in it's rocking chair, pat
ting itself on the back and telling
how good it is. Before I came to
Toledo 1 received through friends
copies of the Toledo theatres. Among
them there was an article headed,
Film Shows Here Safe, the Officials
Say. The article stated that the Off
Gals of the city had made an inves-
tigation of the picture show theatres
and had found that they are as safe
for life and limbs as it is possible to
make them' How solicitous we are
for life and limb! Yet life and limb
are as nothing compared to character
morality and purity. The officials are
strong for the protection of life and