Article January 15, 1910 Issue

A leading Wisconsin newspaper, which occasionally lifts...

Stanley Republican

A leading Wisconsin newspaper, which occasionally lifts up its voice in defense of virtue, which has been known to disparage editorially the influence of light literature on the youth, to decry the white slave traffic, etc., last Sunday gave the most prominent places in its news columns to three revolting tragedies or to the revolting details of testimony connected with them.

Newspapers which on their editorial pages profess to stand for morality and education in right living, give the lie to their professions when they give space to such matter in their news columns. The publication of the mere announcement of a crime committed is perhaps justified, for it often assists in apprehending criminals and bringing them to justice. But no purpose is served by publishing the immoral stories of murder and other court trials, in all their gruesome details, except to satisfy the morbid curiosity of an unhealthy public sentiment. The Republican would warn parents against allowing this sort of reading to come into the home, for its tendency is degrading.

A year ago, the Christian Science church embarked on a journalistic experiment which has been watched with much interest, the issuing at Boston of a daily newspaper which eschews the publication of all immoral, unsavory, or degrading news matter. In keeping with their other teachings, the Christian Scientists believe that if there be crime, sin, and debauchery in the world, it were better for the great mass of humanity that they never hear of it. This is certainly true as it applies to the youth. The Christian Science Monitor has rounded out the first year of its existence a financial success, which speaks volumes for the high character of the clean-minded people who are its patrons and supporters. And if the Christian Science church does no more than make a success of this newspaper, it will have justified its existence a thousand times.

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