The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-28
THE POWER ORTHE PRESS.


Considerable thought Is being given
these days to the power of publicity.
and to the efficacy of the press as a
means of reducing and preventing
crime. Some OF the greatest men Of
the country have given testimony as
to the usefulness OF newspapers in
helping to mold, and shape public
opinion. to say nothing OF their ability
to direct the minds and energies Of
the people who read, and In this day
and time. that means everybody.
Publicity Is also great deterrent of
crime. We do not believe that there
would be nearly so much crime of
certain sorts IL those who commit
them were TO realize that there would
be certain and severe publicity given
their acts. True. some mothers and
wives woula be nude ct tines To-
blush for shame, but the doers of the
wrong would consider thsse tliinEs II
they knew for q certainty that there
would De wide publicity given the
acts they commit In 4houghtless mo-
ments. The Intelligencer has tried
both places. and we are about 10 con-
clude that when we published all
crimes. even the reports OF the police
courts. that there was less to pub
lish than would have, been the case
following one OF ,oar PERIODS of
silence. - 40, - .>i
But, nl another sense. the press Is
bowerful-that is as o leader in pro-
gressive works OF merit. To lead the
people newspaper;mpst be far ahead
OF the crowd. Thsifsaitor must be q
seer. one who locks far ahead and
catches a glimpse coming events. ana
the possibilities Of certain acts. which
history has proven follow certain
causes. A pEeacher, indeed. must the
enlightened ana. awakened press be.
and every days editorial column
should be sefmoh.toA drive. home
scmep; rogressiye thought or some
moral truth. OF course, we all fall
short of theBs 1deais, for unfortunate
ly editors ars Just as human as read
ers are. and they have to be excused
just as much. sni
srThe following thoughts on this sub
feet from The Charlotte Observer.
httaefuen distsnuai,ha,a .,,tLA ,,.ta ,,,..,
he OF interest: :anfu. =,
The ''power OF the press" is a
phrase, as we'll az q fact, long
acknowledged In America. It fs one
subject on which there has never
been any successful iand Sustained
skepticism. Even those who have
miniml9ed the influence of editorial
opinion have admitted that She func-
tion OF handling what President viii
SON calls the raw material GfUpinion,
namely. new. gives the press an I'M
p0rtanae that can scarcely be- over
estimated. In several chaptefs OF his
thoughtfui book, "Crosds, 80 Gerald
Stanley lee holds that d, Great part
of the importance OF the pfesIdentisl
Office arises from the Fact that the
president himself is news. that ffie has
the ear OF the country at any time
he chooses to speak and the country
looks 60 him as the ilnpersonation OF
news-iooks TO him tor news about
what menner OF man he is and what
manner Of people the American ipao-
pie are. II would be interesting to
know to what extent Mr.. Wilson has
been influenced. by these c.iepters. for
he has never lost an opportunity to
Igive an appraisal OF the American
| people as they appear to him. Colonel
EBoUsevelt remarked the other day In
the course OF his testimony. ~ wanted
20 reach the people ana I knew no
| other way TO reach them except
through the newspapers" With three
such interesting and widely different
lRoOseyelt on recotd, by way c5 con-
lsfast, let as hear from O clergyman
who waa Interviewed on the subject
IA New York the other day. said he !:
i"The newspapers are ono Sfa the
lIreateaE moral forces In the country.
| " not the greatest. But whoever at
ltacks intrenched es Ms, whether n6ws.
lipapera or indiyidualst S4h oever at.
taeks the gang that 10 feedink. fatken-
Iing, and gorinand diaihg by pandefing
to vice. and hin. Is bound TO be the
target oe attacks, Every one aWho
Heads In anything has. 70 stand for
abuse: When Columbus said that ahe
world was round and thst HE could
sail TO the. other side Sf 1t, they He'd
him dippY hpghopss. WheA' Jehner
discovered vaccination, which reduced
the death rate from smallpox Ia his
day from niietssR IN d hundred to
four in q hundred. be was sneerei at
md attached. gaiiieo was tortured
for saying that the earth Moved
Tennyson said that every time you
make friend you make ar enemy,