New-York tribune., 1884-11-27
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
ITS CONDUCT IN THE RECENT CAMPAIGN.

AN INVESTIGATION by THE JOINT yxrCUTIvE
COMMITTEE or THE WESTERN AND YEy-YoRK
ASSOCIATION
meeting Of the JOINT Executive Committee OF
the New-fork Associated Press and the Western
Associated Press called in this city TO investigate
ihe published charges Of partisanship in their dis
patches during the campaign and their collection
oieection returns.was attended by all the members,
as ioows: Charles A. Dam, of The Ne,c- York SIN.
chairman; Wmtelaw Reid. of THE TRIBUNE. sccre-
tary; James Gordon Bennett of The Nolr- York Hr-
a'a represented by Or. G. w. HoSmor; Richard
smith OF The cincinnati Commercial Gazette; W. n.
Haiheman, OF The Louisville Cop,ig-,Joarnal
After thorough Investigation of the work in
c'uuihg circulars of instruction, correspondence
WIN agents by letter and telegraph. correspondence
"lth candidates, complaints from both Democratic
ana Republican sources dispatches sent out re-
turns received by telegraph and the originals fled
Dy the scnders in the several telegraph Offices,
W. y. Haldcman Of Tie Louisville CoarierJomRai,
anu Richard Smith of The Cincinnati Commercial
"d'ae were appointed subcommittee to sum-
MARIE the conclusions reached by the members.
They presented the following report, which was
unanimously adopted, and the chairman and secre-
tary OF the Joint Executive Committee were in
strucied to sign the same and transmit it 10 the
members and clients of the two associations:
The Joint Executive Committee did not deem it advlsa-
bic during sharply contested campaign to take public
notce OF the misrepresentation and unwarraned crit
csins published against the Associated Press Obscrya
ton shows that during such OF excitement
arc moved by passion rather than by reason Now that
the party contest Is closed the committee deem their
duty to make public the following statement:
Al meeting of the committee was called for the 25th
inst to which David W. stone president OF the NewYork
Associated Press and the Hon Joseph Pulitzer OF its
ccutiye committee, were invited The latter un
fortunately ont Of the city, but Mr. Stone attended and
gave he committee the benefit of his counsel and
perience. careful review OF the work done and OF
the Official records warrants the statement
that the high character and non-partisan
fairness that have given the Associated Press its hold
upon pubhc confidence In the past have been firmly
maintained. and that no improper influence political or
Otherwise. has been permitted 10 enter into the manage
mont. The work strictly confined within the limits pre-
Scribed by rules which experience has proved to be safe
andJust to all parties has been larger than in any prcy
onf campaign. This was due to greater number OF
party divisions and to the demand the press for fuller
service The state cOnyent0ns-nearly hundred in
number and the National conventions OF al the political
organizations reported with thoroughncss and
apdiy surprising anything ever before attempted The
subsequent official action Of the party committees, the
letters addresses and movements of the candidates
carefully pro ydcd for under nsiructOn similar in Ian
and spirit has never been considered within
the Legitimate functions OF this nOnpartisan association
o report ordinary campaign meetings. to transmit the
scandals that spring mp during such heated periods. All
such have been vigorously excluded from Associated
Press reports.
The charge that election returns In the state OF New
York withheld Is diSprovcd by the fact that out OF
total O: O99 wards and towns in the state the Asso
catcd Press received election ght returns from G3O
whereas in S7d returns were received from only 2oi
ana in $50 from only 203. The extent, rapidty and
substantial accuracy Of this service never cquaed
bcforci this State the total Of which in lssi
reached the enormous number OF 1,167003 so nearly
divided between the two great parties to leave To the
victor only about eleven hundred plurality.
The Investigation shows that while there were some
serious errors the eiegaphng Of reports. especial
y from points due in part To their being trans
miited over different lines OF telegraph. and while these
errors I'm the main diminished the apparent strength Of
Cleveland there was but Of importance IN the
Office of the Associated Press This was in bulletin is
sued on November g. two days after election known
bulletin number L.
In making this mp one of the mathemacians en-
ploycd In the absence full returns from districts in
stead continuing estimate the percentage Of Demo-
cratic gains had been done before undertook TO est
mate the actual pluraes, and hy this process gnrcd
charge OF tho Oicc sent this out without
sufficient scrutiny, but 10 corrected
as soon "a its uaccurcy positively a,ccrtaucd In
regard this the committee nd no evidence OF an
From To last there no effort to control or ahcct
the returns Ivy any member Of tc committee IN any III,
tercsi. interference pf any sort aud the general
instructions under which tile work was dohc were Ntty
fair non PARTISAN. and more thorough ana minute than
ever before CHARLES A. DANA, Chairman.
WmTEL,w REID, Secretary.