Article June 16, 1923 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from S. Edward Young

[From the Times, Baltimore, Md., Jan. 8, 1923]

All newspapers do not supplement the breakfast or dinner with that degree of satisfaction that readers have the right to anticipate. A newspaper's influence is measured altogether ... by the degree of its public service. To be influential in great degree, newspapers must have certain high . . . policies. They should be charitable and benevolent; nonpartisan and unbiased; assist in electing better men to public office; constructive; support the high ideals of church and state; also of stage and screen; encourage public utilities to give reasonable service at reasonable rates; throw their protection around the banks, and turn the light upon all swindles and swindlers; aid the development of rivers and harbors. Newspapers should be fearless in exposing fraud and trickery, in resistance to unreasonable attempts at encroachments through legislation upon certain inviolable rights of men and women; fearless in uncovering crime and positive indecency; fearless in battling the narcotic monster. They should be zealous on behalf of the public health; and to that end insist upon pure foods and clean sports. They ought to be intolerant toward low vices and the pitfalls for boys and girls of tender age. And then they ought to do their utmost for world peace. The world needs more newspapers that will live up to these ideals. Such is the type of newpaper that wields influence all around. And every man who contributes to it performs great public service.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Signs of the Times

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access