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We desire, in order that there may be no misunderstanding, to state publicly the views of the editors of the CRIMSON in regard to the proposed Harvard press club. The advantages which have been mentioned as likely to be produced by this club are: the creation of a bond of union among the editors of the different papers, the consequent tendency to a consensus of opinion on college matters, the establishment of a permanent office for the papers now without sanctums, and, by means of all these factors, the raising of the college papers in the estimation of the college world. The possible social advantages are considered too much a matter of conjecture to be urged strongly.

One of these objects we believe to be not good. A consensus of opinion, we believe, had better come after free expression of all differing views in the papers themselves than simply after discussion among the editors. Discussions are livelier and excite more attention and consideration from students when the papers make known their differences publicly than they would if these differences should be smoothed over in private.

The other objects we are heartily in favor of, yet we do not see precisely what the press club is to do to promote them. It is possible that a monthly meeting might tend to bind the editors together, but we are very skeptical as to the tangibility of this union.

If the papers that have not permanent sanctums wish to secure them, they may far better do so by themselves.

After this analysis, we cannot see that the press club can be expected to raise the estimation of college papers except by making a rather loose union between the college editors and by whatever prestige the name, in itself, might give. Now we believe that such things will not raise papers in general estimation. If papers are to win esteem, they must do so by making themselves more useful to the college world. Any scheme for accomplishing the object by simply banding together rests the thing on an unsound supposition.

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It has been said that the position of college papers at Yale has been bettered of college papers at Yale has been bettered by the formation of a press club. As a matter of fact, no Yale press club exists.

Nothing definite has been proposed for such a club to do. When it is so uncertain that an organization can do anything, why should it be formed? We think that the ephemeral character of such a club would do harm, not good; would produce ridicule, not esteem.

Yet a majority of the men at the meeting last night thought otherwise, and we believe that the sentiment of a majority is to be respected, until it proves unwise. If, therefore, the cooperation of all papers is desired , we shall be glad to do whatever is in our power to form and support a press club organized on an equitable basis.

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