R. C. on newspapers

These are excerpts from the writings of R. C. Hoiles. They are all short. Here are his ideas on such affairs as traveling, city parks, intolerance, tight money and reasonable wages. (D. R. Segal)

● What this country needs as much as anything else are newspapers that believe in moral principle and have enough courage to express these principles and point out practices and beliefs that violate moral principles. A newspaper that only tries to run editorials and columnists and news items that are popular is of mighty little value to its readers.A newspaper that does this is not worth its salt. The reason this kind of newspaper is of little value is that it encourages errors. It is not a clearing house for opinions. It neglects to do its duty for fear it might lose subscribers and lose profits. A newspaper that can be intimidated in its editorial policy can also be intimidated in its news columns. And what good is a newspaper that is afraid to offend some well-intending person or some person who is temporarily benefited by acts that are out of harmony with moral principles; such as the Commandments the Golden Rule and the Declaration of independence?

● How can people correct their errors if they are not pointed out? And if a newspaper is afraid to let people point out errors or will not point them out itself, it simply is worshipping the Golden Calf and is not worthy of the respect of American citizens.Of course. this does not mean that a newspaper should go into private matters, but it does mean that it should be willing to think out loud on such questions as education, labor relations and political subjects in general.Because many newspapers have catered to things that are popular and have been afraid to make themselves a method of bringing light to all readers we are in the shape we are in today with dishonest money, mounting debts, corruption of people in public offices and one war after another.

● A newspaper has a responsibility because it is the most economical method of exchanging ideas. A newspaper that is afraid to discuss things that are “sacred cows” to the majority will be afraid to handle news stories that might cost it advertising or subscriptions. A newspaper that hides behind its columns and will not answer any or all questions about what it is advocating is not a real newspaper and is of little value to its readers.Just so. politicians or citizens who accuse another of misconduct and will not write a bill of particulars or answer any and all questions are being of no real service to their fellow man.A newspaper should shed light on moral, political or economic questions. If it has light, it will do this. If it only pretends to throw light, but has no light; it will have to hide behind its editorial chair.The Great Teacher expressed this idea when He said: “Men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel” and “Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”Those people who think a newspaper is violating moral law and refuse to support it are to be admired if they are first willing to answer any and all questions to show that their own position is in harmony with moral principles and the newspaper's is not.There is no instrument that could do as much to get the American people to reverse their trend away from the ideologies set forth in the Declaration of Independence and theCommandments and return to these ideologies as American newspapers.A newspaper that is afraid of losing subscribers because of principles is of little value to itself or anyone else. It might make dollars but its publisher loses his own self respect—his own soul.● When I was working on a newspaper that I did not control I used to wish that I was in another line of business. I thought it was much more important to be manufacturing something of a national nature than producing a local newspaper. The newspaper I was connected with at that time did not particularly stand for any principle, so it was difficult to be enthusiastic about the newspaper business. Now, I believe that the newspaper business is one of the most important of all businesses. It is a business that can do a lot of good or a lot of harm. It cannot do very much good unless it is consistent and stands for principles that are in harmony with natural moral law.● Whether a controversial editorial is good or bad—that is, useful or harmful to readers—depends upon whether or not the newspapers publishing those editorials or columnists will give space to those who believe the position taken by the newspaper or columnist is harmful to others. In other words, whether the newspaper or columnist is willing to defend his position by answering questions and defining his terms by reducing them to principles.A controversial editorial of this kind is certainly useful to the community and to the nation. Itis useful because it tends to cause people to use their own mental faculties. And anything that does that benefits everyone. It is hard to conceive how an individual, an editor, a preacher, or a teacher, or a politician can develop his faculties if he is so arbitrary that he makes statements that he cannot defend in open discussion. It is a recognized fact that truth can always defend itself in open discussion, provided it is truth. It is hard to conceive how truth can be recognized unless beliefs can be challenged not by particular people, but by anyone. Most anyone could defend his position if he selected his own opponents.

● It seems that years ago men were more willing to publicly attempt to defend their position than they are today. And this might be largely the cause of the confusion we are in today.I, personally, do not know any daily newspapers, excepting those associated with FreedomNewspapers, that throw their columns open to anyone to challenge any opinion expressed by the editor of the paper, provided the challenger will, himself, answer questions without evasion. The reason the editors of Freedom Newspapers take this position is that it is the only way they know of improving their understanding of natural and moral law.There were more crusading newspapers in years gone by than there are today. Today too many newspapers are afraid off offending somebody and losing a dollar by taking an unpopular position. The result is that they cease to develop, cease to be of much use in their community as far as getting people to better understand human relations that will promote goodwill, peace and prosperity.Too many editors seem to have forgotten the admonition of Jesus when he said: “. . . men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every ace that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

● A newspaper should be a place where local, state and national and international questions can be thoroughly discussed. They are not thoroughly discussed in colleges, or churches or by radio commentators or by those holding or seeking office. A newspaper that carries controversial editorials and will permit its readers to challenge its policies not only benefits the editor and the publisher, but it benefits those who do the challenging. It whets their mental faculties. It tends to cause them to reason closely. It tends to eliminate their contradictions. It also helps the readers gain understanding.If more and more people could be persuaded that they should not trust or have much confidence in any individual who will not permit his statements to be questioned and challenged by anyone, we could turn the trend away from state socialism to believing in the blessings that come from respecting human initiative. In other words, to the blessings of private competitive ownership of private property.

● I believe it was Ben Franklin who said he always wanted something in his newspaper that was useful to his readers or entertaining. And it is hard to think of anything more useful to the readers than too get them to be able to recognize a contradiction and think in harmony with eternal principles.The kind of a newspaper a man takes has a lot to do with the kind of a man he becomes.