The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-27

New YORK, Nov. ga meeting of the Joint
executive committee of the Now York Associated
Press and the Western Associated Press called
in New York to investigate the published
charges of partsanship in their dispatches dur
ing the campaign, and their collection Of election
returns was attended by members as follows
Charles A. Dana Of the New York Sum- chair
man; Whitelaw Reid of the Tribune secretary;
James Gordon Bennett. of tho Herald, repre-
sented by DR. G. w. Hosmer; Richard Smith, of
the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette; w. N.
Haldeman, of the Louisville Courier Journal
After thorough investigation of the work.
including circulars Of instruction, correspond
ence with agents by letter and telegraph,
correspondence with candidates, complaints
from both Democratic and Republican
sources, dispatches sent out, returns
received by telegraph and tine originals
fled by the senderS in tho several telegraph Of
fees Messrs. Haldeman Of the Louisville
Courier Journal, and Richard Smith, of tho
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, were appointed
a sub committee to summarize the conclusions
reached by the members, They presented the
following report, which was unanimously adopt
ed. The chairman and secretary of the joint
executive committee were instructed to sign the
same, and transmit it to the members and
clients Of the two associations:
ITO the Members and Clients of tile Associated Press:
''The joint executive committee did not deem
it advisable, during sharply contested
paign TO take public notice Of misrepresenta-
tions and unwarranted criticisms published
against the Associated Press Observation
shows that, during such seasons Of excitement
men are moved by passion rather than 10y rea
son. Now that the party contest is closed, the
committee deem it their duty to make public the
following statement;
"A meeting of the committee was called for
the 25th inst. to which David NJ Stone presi-
of fha I'D md
Hon. Joseph Pulitzer, of its executive commit
tee were invited. The latter WAS, unfortun-
ately, ont of the city, but Mr.. Stone attended
and gave the committee the benefit of his coun-
sci and experience. careful review of the
work done, and of the official record warrant
the statement that the high character and non
partisan fairness that have given the Associated
Press its hold upon public confidence in the past
have been firmly maintained and that no i'm
proper influence, political or otherwise has been
permitted to enter into the management The
work, strictly confined within the limits pre-
scribed by rules which experience has proved TO
be safe and just TO all parties, has been
larger than in any previous campaign This
due to a greater number Of party decisions, and
to the demand of the press for a fuller service.
The State conventions, nearly a hundred in
number and the national conventions of all the
political organizations were reported with a
thoroughness and rapidity surprising anything
ever before attempted. The subsequent official
action of the party committees, the letters, ad
dresses and movements of the candidates we're
carefully provided for under instructions similar
in language and spirit 1t has never been con
sidercd as within the legitimate functions of
this non partisan association to report ordinary
campaign meetings or to transmit tho scandals
that spring up during such heated periods All
such have been vigorously excluded from the AS
sociated Press reports.
1.-The charge that election returns In the State
of New York We're withheld. is disproved by the
fact that out of total Of / 099 wards and towns
in the State, the Associated Press received, on
election night, returns from $50, whereas in
1876 returns were received from only 2J4, and
| in 1880 from only 293. The extent, rapidity,
and substantial accuracy of this service wero
never equaled before in this State the total vote
of which, in 1884, reached the onoromous nnm-
Der of l, 167 DOB, so nearly divided between tine
two great par ties as TO leave to the victor only
about l, 100 of plurality. The investigation
shows that while there wero some serious errors
! in. the teegraphipg Of cur reports especially