The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-12
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Tho Persistent Effort Of the United Press
Papers TO DIsCredit It-A Sweeping Re.
futatioa.
CHICAGO, Dec, ll.-It cannot have es-
capped public attention that during the
past year there has been q persistent
and malignant endeavor on the part Of
few New York papers to discredit the
Associated Press Day after day il has
been asserted that the Associated Press
was falling in pieces; that it was bank.
rupt; that each months business
showed . deficit; that its news service
was unreliable, and frequently behind
time; that there was widespread dis
satisfaction among its members. To
those who know the facts. these state.
meuts only furnished fresh evidence OF
the desperate plight into which the un.
fortunate United Press papers found
themselves.
1t was well known that many OF those
who were most clamorous in their
praise OF the United Press and most
solici.ous for the welfare OF the Asso-
ciated Press papers were at the same
momont applicants for admission TO the
Associated Press, and in some cases
were Offering large bonuses Tor such nd.
missions. The motives which inspired
this cam paign Of libel and falsehood are
easily discoverable. The prime movers
in the conspiracy-two New York edi-
tors-were formerly conspicuous as Az
sociated Press officials. They used the
organization Tor their personal
advantage, imposing heavy tax
upon all the other papers OF
the nation so that they could
get their own news services for q NOM
inat rate, and, finally, when this was no
longer possible, because OF revolt,
they set about disrupting the orRaniza'
tion Of which they were the trusted otti-
GERS. How they were given large
blocks OF United Press stock, and how
they they then secretly connived to
push the fortunes of this rival concern,
while they were yet members OF the ex.
eCutive committee OF the Associated
Press, is o disgraceful story with which
most intelligent journalists are too
familiar. 1t would be impossible to an.
swer In details all of the falsehoods
which these very fertile neople can In
vent
1t is perhaps enough to say that The
Associated Press holds to-day position
incomparabIy in advance OF that ever
held by any news-gathering organlza-
ton; thatit includes in Its membership
all the papers of consequence In the ma
ton except a small coterie on the At
lantic seaboard; that during the past
year it has taken into its membership
an average OF three United Press papers
week and has lost none; that 1t ID
upon q most satisfactory busines. basis,
its receipts exceeding its expenditures
every week; that there is no discomfort,
but on the other hand, its members are
proud OF its news service, which ls i'm
measurably superior to any the United
Press have ever offered; that Its direc'
tors aud officers are working in perfect
harmony, and are oil loyal to tho trust
reposed in them.
The latest assertion that the general
manager is at odds with the board OF
directors, and therefore purposes re-
signing, is quite as false as any that
preceded it.
As to a settlement on a business
basis" repeated overiures for adjust
ment have come from the United Press
during the past six months. but the
officers Of the Associsted Press have
wisely rejected them because they did
not wish to assume obligations that
would surely have proven insup-
portable.
fSigned) MELVILLE E. sross,
General Manager.