The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-23
BRYAN HASAPLAN
Suggests That Newspapers EN-
ploy as Editors
Representatives of Each Side Of
Political Question.
GUEST AT BANQUET
OF the Associated Press and
A. N. p. A. Membership.
Tells How He Got Near Them
on the Tariff.

New York, April 23.-There was a
notable gathering of editors and pub
fishers at the Waldorf Astoria last
night, the occasion being a joint ban
quet OF the Associated Press and the
American Newspaper Publishers as
soclation, both of which are holding
their annual meeting in this city.
Every state and territory Of the Unit
ed States was represented by those
VINO have earned distinction in the
newspaper profession, and their
guests included William J. Bryan.
United States Senator Philander C.
Knox OF pennsylvania and others Of
public influence.
The grand ball room was filed to
the limit of comfort when the six
hundred diners had found their
pIaces. The boxes, half hidden by
wealth of carnations and apple
BLOSSOMS were occupied by the fam
ines and friends of the banqueters.
At the presidents table were Cen
erai c. H. Taylor Of the Boston
Glooe, the POSTMASTER; Herman Rid
der, editor and publisher of the New
York Staatz Zeitung and president Of
ene american Newspaper Publishers
association; Frank B. Noyes of the
Chdcago Record-Herald, president Of
the Associated Press; Senator Knox,
Mr. Bryan, Bishop Frederick Burgess
or the Episcopal diocese of Long
Island' rabbi Stephen S. Wise of the
free Synagogue, Patrick Francis
Murphy. officials of the two oreani-
cations and others
Mr; R1dder began the evening for
mal1t1es by proposing the health of
the president of the United States.
Inc toast was drunk standing while
nrHhnCfrn v,Jo
Spangled Banner
In the name of Frank B. Moves,
president of the Associated Press and
IN behalf Of the American Newspap-
er publishers association said Mr..
Ridder, Il bid you all tonight. our
guests. warm and hearty welcome.
Mr: R1dder then explained jokingIy
that he had promised not to make a.
speech. Accordingly he was obliged
to otuntly Introduce zone of the
most distinguished journalists OF this
country, the editor of the Boston
Globe, Gen. Taylor
This gave General Taylor, who was
received with tumultuous applause
an opportunity to say:
Il do not think that the commit
tee need to have tied Mr. Ridder
down in such way that he could
not give me some com plimentary
praise for I own to you that I am one
of that ordinary sort of men who
would rather have an ounce Of taffy
while I am alive than ton Of
epitaphy after I am dead'
In more serious mood General
Taylor answered the charge that a
tinge of commercialism had come
into the press in the last quarter of
century After pointing out that
whereas an eight page paper 25 years
| the reader now receives from 8 to "a
pages for one cent. He added that
there was not one cent paper in
the country but that was worth two
cents. What journalists really need
| ed, he said, was a copper half cent
| it and give a two Or three cent paper
| for half the present price.
Mr.. Bryan's Address.
Mr.. Bryan, who had received a
| cordial greeting when he entered the
dining hall was given another kindly
expression as he rose to speak.
Mr.. Bryan spoke for some moments
in kind to earlier salhes at his ex-
pense. He then said:
The Associated Press is a very i'm
| portant factor in the spread of that
| information which is necessary for the
| formation Of opinion; and in castins .
| about for subject nothing more ap-
propriate has occurred to me than the
| Bible passage: Know the truth and
| the truth shall make you free'
1t should be the purpose of the
| Associated Press to convey to it's mum
erous subscribers the unbiased. un-
| colored truths. 1 recognize that this
| is extremely difficult and that with
even the best of intentions those who
| report interviews, conventions and
| events will unintentionally inject theiI
own opinions and yet absolutely i'm
| partiahty must be the ideal at which
the Associated Press aims You fur
nish news to Republican papers. Dem
ocrat papers, papers identified with
| other parties and to independent pa
| pers and the reader of these Associa
| ted Press reports represent all phases
| of opinion.
| Your association is not a party or
ganization; it does not do educat tiona
| work; it is not the champion of any
cause or the advocate of any man
1t is expected to tell the truth about
congressional doings, legislative ses-
sions, municipal matters, and to cor
rectly report that which is given to ii
for publication.
1T cannot guarantee its readers
| against mistakes for it's agents are
human; but it can correct mistakes
when they are found out and admon-
1t does not furnish the headlines. which
| are often misleading; but it can see tc
| it that the text is free from inten-
| tional errors and that those who trust
| TO us accuracy snail not be deceived
| Il take this opportunity to express
| my appreciation of the treatment fhat
has been accorded me. The associatior
has asked me for advance copies of !
| great many more speeches than / hayf
been able to give it; and in asking fo,
an advance copy it has furnished the
| best proof that it wanted to treat ms
| with fairness. Through the Associated
Press have been able to get my ideas
and my arguments before the readers
| of the Republican papers, and have
| been less concerned about the com.
ments of Republican papers than
about the correctness of the news re.
port.
! 1T occurs to me that this is a xooe