New-York tribune., 1894-09-13

NEW LIGHT on ASSOCIATED PRESS
AFFAIRS.
INTERESTING DIsCLosrREs IN LETTER SENT
OUT ny PRESIDENT LAWsoN-ANoThER

CALL FOR NEEDED Funds.
,bicapo Sen, 12-Certain disclosures contained III
\ le,ter recently sent OUT by The president Of the
Chicago organization styling itself the Associated
Press have alarmed many " iis f'cinberS. III ''e
first place {: will be recalled that the menD - oi
the Associated Press had been repeatedly assured
in open meetings IN Chicago and elsewhere by Presi-
dent Lawson and Manager Melville f. S;one that the
business was no, ben, run at loss ana that the'r
extra assessments were ample TO meet all outays
and would be continued but very snort time oh'S'
in fact until new revenue from Eastern sources
should accrue take their place. DURING ids'
winter they were promised not only that these as
sessmonts should cease. within periods eNph'luy
stated at from thirty days to two months but mat
the previous weekly charge for the news service
should itself be materially reduced. lhey were
asked be patient the extra outlay was oniy
oc the most temporary character. and was re-
qured Cor the initiatory expenses attendant upon
, the enlargemon; Of their business in the East.
Not merely has there been no abatement IN the
charge for the news service but the letter from Mr.
Lawson. jus; refe red 70. conveyed TO the members
thecxraordnary admission that the Assoc.atediro
heavily In debt to some OF the chicago banks
and that the members must coine 70 the rescue win
an additional weekly assessment TO make good
monthly deficit OF several thousand dollars In
other words, instead Of being on a paying basis as
represented all along by Messrs Lawson and stone
in the general meetings in Chicago anI elsewhere
and as they had personally assured the Washing
ton Philadelphia and Baltimore newspaper pro-
prletors. as well all the members OF the state
Associated Press Of New-York and the officers OF
the Now England Associated Press the concern was
running behind at what row is seen to nave been
the rate of abou; 100000 year
Nj Lawson says in h!s circular letter to mem
bers that the notes of the Associated Press nave
been given for part % THIS loss. AM J. - under
stood that the amount OF sad notes Is $4,000 Mr.
| All
The Ex.rutlye C.mmift.r The question .s now
asked W no authorized the Exerutiv. Committee -
snrei thai 1nrrrase IN h~ir assessnents was
for ;hc purpose of ting Increased eAI 'hsr ~
coy,d m anon II in The be cf that ia Vas for that
purpose alone. and that for mat purpose Il was
Mcssrs. Lawson AMI stone however appear TO
are disclosed only because th- management
they see the fatt error ;he} have m"te. IN thT
first place. in borrowing ~ AL ana; in tAr -. 'h
pace. ~ concr1i.ng ihe fact or thef '.ii"@"'S WINS
from the men whose trustees they were. ana upon
whom this heavy ll-s must ultimately faM
ine ASSOCIATED Press noie-, lt j. tia'el IN ~.
Law.9ns e.r.aag are naorsel @ BY memecT. tm.sn
hing abon, The waoc tran.ac;.on IS that Mr.. Law
Sol, I'D IN, san' m '"il' ','.' s..,,t~ ~, h'n."V
ana his coiniorsers the guarantee flai "hi Wa
subscribed. ia memorable circumf oi 'N,.'r-
m-ni. at chicago. 10 ''''n'i. l''1 am 'Nrlg 80
iurc to whch wis secured with The assuran'e ma
not a penny ~ ia money Ipi ever D cA.c ''l'
aad that II vas only ior moral encct Win Eastern
The questions now which are uppermost In the
minds OF members here are. Who Authorized thr
borrowing OF ,uch large sums. ana VINO authorz'1
the scQuestra;on Of the guarantee fund by MI.
Lawson? No doubt the owners OF the papers IN
volved would have gladly contributed To the cam
paiCn, but they have very decided Vows ot thelr
own about having forced loan levied on mem.
In addition TO the heavy assessments ihat they
have been bearing ali along. ana the ne" can Tor
a further assessment. or voluntary contribution
asked for in Mr.. Lawson. letter
IN % ~ "a
fact that has been gcHeraliy Overlooked that thc
liability Ot the Sgnatoflcs under that document
is diminishing week by week AMI that its Valu"
as collateral from banking point or view N
shrinking parl -passu. This i~ because there is a
provision IN the instrument thFi IN" various sums
Subscribed thereto may b. pail ~ weekly install
ments spread over two years. Thus IT VIII hr seen
that the guarautee fund having already run ior
nearly Il year. Mr. Lawson has very nearly eN-
hausieG It's banking valu" as collateral
None of these facts. though. shed any light upon
the legal moral right OF Nj Lawson ana ms
cOllcag.cs 10 s.lZ" upon tho fund SuhScrlpeh as
collateral to sccur" them against persona. loss on
account Of debts that they had authority To con
tract General amaZ' Inent has settled aown on
the member Of the Associated lrcss ~ inc 'haI-
acter OF the mana cement. which has made II pos
slbe TO run II I'm debt under such extraordinary
circumstances. and without any consultation what
ever with those whose interests are affected.
II n felt that the Chicago managers have taken
too much upon themselves. and that they have
ignored other members who upon the alleged CO
/ operative principle upon which the Associated
I'rcss was said 10 be founded had certainly a.
/ good a right TO De heard a any one clse.
L Underneath all Of this discomfort. the wretchcd
, and delusiVe quality OF tb" service has created a
constantly growing dissatisfaction. while nothing
has appeared 10 alay IN" irritation caused by the
continuous exposure Of fake news. 'lake' SEN
salons and failure to gather and in,cllgently pre-
sent h.. real OF the day