The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-30
CRIMSON NEWS.
(From The Editor and publisherJ

(FrOm the Editor and Publisher)
Some weeks ago William Allen
White made a just complaint that
many Of the motion picture producers Of
the country were using the sex appeal
to win patronage. In support Of his
claim he cited the fact that a story
written by himself had been edited intc
Il sex picture drama, much TO his dis.
gust.
The sex appeal seems TO dominate
many Of our motion picture prcduc-
tlons. In many cases the advertising
is more degrading than the produc-
tions themselves and it is not at all
unusual TO find these advertisements
in the otherwise best-regulated news
papers.
Motion pictures are one Of the most
potent influences in our social life
today, but they are not alone in their
offenses against morality-the news
papers in many, many instances have
not been guiltess in this respect, but
never before have so many fallen to
such depths in the evaluation Of news.
We seem TO be passing through a
period Of crimson journalism. It is
not the purpose of Editor and Publish.
er TO say what is news and what is not.
That IS a question for the individual
managing editor, but it is within our
sphere TO draw the line between filth
and news in the interest Of public in
formation and education.
It does not require any more ability
to write the kind Of news Of which Ed.
tor and Publisher complains than il
does to produce motion pictures of the
Kind that william Allen White de-
plores. In the one case suggestive
phrases picture passion to the minds
Of millions Of clean-minded, innocent
children; in the other case suggestive
poses Of the human body take the place
OF words.
1t takes a writer Of marked ability TO
make commonplace news interesting.
But men like Mark Sullivan, David
Lawrence, Robert Bender, Norman
Hapgood and hundreds Of other able
men and women have no difficulty in
attracting, holding and satisfying read
er interest day after day.
It IS but natural that divorces.
murders suicides and the most sordid
OF local crimes have a certain local
news value. What that value may be
is a matter that only the local manag-
ing editor can properly judge: It Is also
possible ior a divorce. murder. suicide
or other crime TO Dee carried out oi
the sordId and filthy by rs dramatic.
romantic and unusual appeal and made
news wherever So is told. and litera-
ture if properly written. This Is not
the kind OF stories OF which journalism
ever need be ashamed. but there Ger .
tainly can be no admiration or respect I.
Nt Ntt" Ns'N 700 muster JUL llhllHkN tit ]
any time for the craftsmen who pand. /
cr 20 the lowest passions by spreading |
scx filth au over the front page or q |
journal accepted as decent ana respect
able
We ha,e lad an abundance Of this
kind @. journalism iu the last few
mc ths 200 some cases outclsts OF so-
c,cU have been made into national |
chauctHs with the same place Of i'm
portancr in the news columns as the
leaders n Government. education. relic
sion. business ui industry In Chica.
go "a d.ssolutc woman shot and Killed
% drunken robbor f1issmln who was
uniiihul Go " wife md family /.
just o. drunken killing. but DO made
national sensation; N,w Yorker Of
un@yory reputation sues for divorce.
naming several correspondents DO has
nothing ot news value. but by the usc
of tho words bathroom" bedroom"
and pink nighties," it is carried to