The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-02
The Newspaper AZ An Ethical Fore
70 the Editor or TIE T,mss:

The Newspaper Az An Ethical Force.
TO the Editor or TIE Times:
II was my privilege to be present
at the meeting or the Twentieth Cen
fury club on last Thursday afternoon,
and hear Mr.. Harris address on THE
newspaper az an ethical and literary
force" I enjoyed his paper. as
any newspaper man would. But
was disappointed that he passed over
80 lightly, and eyasively. as 1t seemed
to me. the most important part OF his
theme, and failed to sound the true
ethical note at all
Hence IL was with genuine delight
that ! heard you follow him, and
strike, In such courageous anu
STRAIGHTFORWARD fashion, the zone
clear note" which. ! am sure. the
audience expected to hear, and with.
out which that part of Mr.. Harris
address was like Hamlet with Ham
let left OUT
Mr.. Harris missed fine opportun-
ity to exalt the mission OF the
Fourth Estate. No one would quar-
rel with this position that the newspar
per II primarily purveyor OF news.
But 30 make that function fin the
whole horizon, to the ignoring OF
ethical considerations; to show the
ideal newspaper as the one which
most completely supplies the public
with what IL wants, regardless OF its
character or ethical influence, is to
ignore one OF the most important
functions OF the newspaper. Ahe
newspaper, because of the influence
Il 70 boun6 to have over its readers,
because OF the, trend which the news
IL publishes and its manner of telling
the news, must inevitably give to the
thought and action OF its readers. has
q clear duty to present the facts In
such q way. and to back them with
such editorial Judgment and express
sion. as shall most conduce to create
In favor of all that Is good and dis
approval Of all that IL bad, and arouse
that sentiment to action In all ways
that will enhance public morals and
social betterment. Any other view
means simply the subordination OF
the editorial desk to the counting
room. and makes the chief. IL not sole
end and aim. to sell papers and swell
the advertising receipts Such q
newspaper may make money, but II
surely cannot by any stretch be called
IAN ethical force"
The day when bare realism, wheth-
81 In literature, art or the drama,
apart from ethical considerations, can
justify itself. has gone by, II II ever
was; and surely there is no warrant
Tor It In modern Journalism. A new
note has been struck: and though
many. perhaps most, OF our great
newspapers have as yet failed to
reach the key, there 10 decided pro-
gress and encouragement. Altruistic
service. public morality. social uplift.
Industrial justice, clean politics-all
ethical values--are more and more
entering into the newspapers sphere
and function. and only to the extent
that this 10 SO. is 1t In any sense ian
ethical force?"
Therefore, az q fellow Newspaper
man. Of 46 years experience, frst In
the country press, then eight years
on daily newspapers, and 80 years In
my present relations with the religi-
ous press. am glad to congratulate
i you upon the strong and felicitous
way In which you upheld the ethical
quality. as one that must character
ixe the ideal newspaper. IL II would
Justify itself to this forward looking
age. 1t was evident that you had the
sympathy and approval Of the Twenti-
eth Century ladies, and all the more
because you back up theory BY prac-