Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-15

though not necessarily III too disgust
ing detail. Murders that covered
page 20 years ago. now rarely get more
than a half column or a column The
fact that prize fights have been fought,
and who was victor and who vanquish-
ed; hangings and eIectrocutions, and
lynchings must be reported; divorces
should likewise be put in the days rec
ord. All these because the people want
TO know them, and because they carry
their own lessons.
Every man and every woman wants
to know the news OF the world and OF
the community except when In the tell
ing OF II that man or that woman or
some one or more Of that man or that
woman's immediate relatives or friends
are reflected on In unfavorable light
Few know how insistent is the demand
from interested people in suppression
Of this variety Of news. Demands of
the community must and should take
precedence of the demands Of these
people.
The clean newspaper must get the
reputation OF telling the truth no mat
ter how regrettable the truth may be.
II must be q supporter Of law and
order It should be a booster for its
own community, seeking to attract to
| it every new enterprise that will make
for commercial advantage without
threatening to undermine the morals
or welfare Of the community.
/ Without sporting and athletic news.
a newspaper today would have practic-
tally no young male readers. 1t would
! lose perhaps half of the good influence
1 it is able to WELD II would not lose
anything like half Of its subscribers.
/ but it would lose many of those whom
/ 1t is able to benefit most Many boys
and young men get newspaper habit.
the reading habit. only through desire
ito devour the sporting news
Honest with Public.
/ The clean newspaper must be hon
est with the public always remember,
ling 1t must be real newspaper, a
paper containing the news, mirror of
I the events Of the day.
! It must have no grudge against any
official or any citizen.
1t must have no ave to grind, no
enemies to punish. no friends TO re-
ward 1t should have no denomina-
tional religion, though the editor
should be as free as any citizen to Sc
I lect his own creed. In this nation we
call christian, the newspaper should al
least tacitly acknowledge the existence
of God, ana II should show and preach
that sin is eyerlastingly sure 10 bring
dishonor and untimely death. that life
lis not worth living without virtue and
good works. All this is equivalent to
belief that the teachings of the bible
are true.
Personally I believe that news
paper should adhere to the principles
Of political party But when it ad.
heres so closely that it will support a
candidate of that party who is or is
believed to be unfit, it deserves to lose
public confidence. There are many
clean and conscientious papers indie
pendent in politics. but, sad to relate
too many independent papers swing
suddenly TO one party or other. or one
candidate or other, just about the time
campaign funds are being distributed
A clean newspaper should be pro
/ gressive. taking the lead in advocacy
of any reform that is desirable Il
should help the people wage their bat
ties and win their victories.
| clean newspaper should without
Icriticism be able to receive any adyer.
tisements submitted to it by persons
firms or corporations whose business
has the sanction of Law.