The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-23
An Everlasting Puzzle. Indeed!

In this weeks number Of Hdrpcrs
Weekly there are two singular out
bursts Of violence on the part or NOR
MAN HAPGooD which seem TO merit the
attention Of his relatives and nearest
friends. The first outburst Is against
ANTHONY CoMsroCK, who has been do
ing his best since 1873 to suppress the
ira file In obscene literature and tn put
photographers in Jail. Whatever may
he thought Of Mr.. CoMsrocK judgment
and methods In particular cases, the
fact remains that for forty years he
has been one of the greatest forces in
the world for cleanliness, one Of the
greatest and most useful OF public
scavencers. NORMAN HAPGoop hates
CoMsTocK's activities and attributes
them TO "sex mania In one of its most
displeasing forms" In psychopatho-
logical observations covering a consid-
cradle period Of journalistic history
we have noticed that excited denuncia-
ton Of ANTHONY CoMsTOCK In any pub
LEGATION on the frontier OF respecta-
bility Is the .irst symptom of a process
Of degeneration which often ends In
moral ruin and sometimes results In
either the social ostracism or shameful
exile of the person responsible. That
Is why NORMAN HhPGooD's attack on
Mr.. CoMsToCK is n bad sign.
The second outbreak Of NORMAN HAP.
GOOD. we are sorry To say, is against
THE Sun; It appears to be- his unfor-
tunately conceived way of rewarlins
this newspaper for n friendly express
sion at the New Year. when we cordi-
ally wished him manhood
Search your minds to the bottom and
your psychology may be subtle enough
TO ind out why the great defenders OF
decency are those who are the great up
holders of public special privilege. In
New York city, for instance. political and
special privilege has never had any other
servant so faithful year in and year out
and on every subject as THE Sun. nor is
there any other paper which more de-
lights in printing story in which an
excuse exists for sex explorations. A
famous editor OF THE Sun used to say
whenever the circulation began To decline,
smut her up Smut her up II has been
consistent policy OF THE SUN, whenever
an indecent play was put ON, to give eiab-
crate extracts Just to show how indecent
1t was
These MEASUREMENTS. II IL scarcely
worth while 10 say, are the inventions
or the ina ginings Of NORMAN llAPGOoD's
abnormal mind. No editor of THE Sun
| famous ar otherwise. ever was In tn,
habit Of giving or ever gave such dl
! rections to his stan. As is perfectly wei
known both To TIT SUNS producers
and to its readers, no paper Is nor,
careful about admitting 10 It's columns
stories In which, as llApGOoD puts II
excuse exists for sex explorations
| 1t is not the consistent policy Of TIN
sun" and never has been its policy {,
give elaborate extracts from Indecent
| plays just 10 show how Indecent they
are. To anybody who knows the news
, paper of which we are speaking the
! IbTP.blHS IHlStlbbiN lbNt llltIE IillG
nifty In utter absurlity.
| by n somewhat curious coincidenc,
the sane mail which contains NORMA,
! HAPGooD's excited Pronunciation of An
! THoNY CoMsTocK ana passionate mis-
representation Of THE Sun brings N
the press agent circular Of a CONNER
clul Him corporation which is seckn!
! to thrust before the puhlic's eyes, Will,
evadlng the police, one of the worst o
the prostitute picture plays, This con
cern of mercennry greed, masking ltsel
behind "soriologlcal' purpose, advertise
the favorable opinions of three women
one physician and NORMAN HArGoor
In NORMAN HAPGoOD'S opinion the M
tori0us exhibition Is wholesome" III
personally In quoted as declaring tina
the attempt of the authorities in thl
and other cities to suppress this pan
ornma Of harlotry Is ~ singular exam
pie Of conservatism AT It's stupidest.
Nobody In America" adds the fllI
companys circular, takes NORMA