The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-23
BRYAN SITS
 AT BANQUET Gives Suggestion to Newspaper Men. NoN-PARTISAN EDITORIALS Editors Stand and Drink to Health
 of Roosevelt.
The Gathering of Editors and Pub fishers of Newspapers at waldorf Astoria Last Night Was Not-
 able Event.

New York. AprfI 22--There was notable gathering of editors and pub fishers at the Waldorf Astoria tonight. the occasion being joint banquet of the Associated Press and the American Newspaper Publishers Association. both of which are holding their annual meetings in this city.
 Every State. and Territory in the United States yves represented by those who have earned distinction in the newspaper profession. and their guests Included William Jennings Bryan. United States Senator Philan- der c. Knox. of Pennsylvania, and others of public influence.
 At the Presidents table were General Charles H. Taylor of The Boston Globe the toastmaster; Herman Ridder, ed- itor and publisher of The New York Staats Zeitung, and President of the American Newspaper Publishers Asso- citation: Frank B. Moves. of The Chi- cago Record Herald. and President ot the Associated Press; Senator Knox. Mir. Bryan, Bishop Frederick Burgess, of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Is- land; Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. of the Freen Synagogue; Patrick Murphy. ofh- cials of the two organizations. and others.
 MT. Ridder began the evenings for maIities by proposing the health of the ETGBiUGnI OL tue OthAtE0 OtoeNSs A@a~ toast was drunk standing, while the or- chestra played the Star Spangled Ban ner Brief speeches were made by Gen. ar Tayor and Rabbi Wise
 Cordially Received.
 Mir Bryan, who had received cor dial greeting when he entered the din- ing hall. was given another kindly ex- pression as he rose to speak. Mr. Bryan spoke for some moments in a k,,.x Itna nf fhntfHhf and then said:
 T appreciate the compliment which is paid me by those who have had the arrangements of this banquet. The Associated Press is very important factor in the spread of that tnforma- ton which is necessary for the form ation of opinion: aud in casting about for subject. nothng more approprtate has occurred to me than the Bible pas sage. Know the truth and the truth shalf make you free" It should be the purpose of the Associated Press to con" vey to It's numerous subscribers. the unbiased. uncolored truth. T recognize that it is extremely difficult and that even with the best of intentions those who report interviews, conventions and events will unintentionally inject their own opinions and yet absolute impar- tiality must be the ideal at which the Associated Press aims. You furnish news to Republican papers Democratic papers, papers identified with other par ties and to independent papers and the readers of these Associated Press reports represent every phase of opin- ion.
 "Your Association is not a party or- gan. It does not do editorial work; 1t is not the champion of any cause or the advocate of any man. It Is expect ed to tell the truth about Congresston- al doinEs legislative sessions munich pal matters and to correctly report that which is given to # for publication:
 Tt cannot guarantee its readers against mistakes. for its agents are human: but 1t can correct mistakes when they are found out and admonish it's representatives to be cautious. IL does not furnish the headlines which are often misleading; but 1t can see to 1t that the text Is free from intentional errors and that those who trust to us accuracy shall not be deceNed'
 my appreciation of the treatment that has been accorded me. The Associa- tion has asked me for advance copies of A great many more speeches than have been able to give 1t; and in ask Ing for an advance copy It has TUT nished the best proof that It wanted 10 treat me with fairness. Through the Associated Press I have been able to get my ideas and my arguments before the readers of the Republican papers and I have been less concerned about the editorial comments of Repuolican papers than about the correctness or the news reports.
 "As the years go by, and as the cir culatton and advertising patronage in- creases. the papers show an increasing Inclination towards political independ- ence. In view of this tendency Tn modern Journalism, 1t seems to me that inc time Is ripe for an experiment.
 Suggests an Experiment.
 If the proprietor really wants to conduct a non-partisan paper. ana 1T the readers really want to subscribe not both proprietor and reader be bet fer satisfied with a paper which re- norted the news impartially In its news columns and then give to each party representation on its editorial paRe? f. for instance. a big metro poiitan paper wants to become really indepepdent, why should 1t not em- nIov representative of each of the narties to furnish signed editorials on nolitical questions? Such paper would appeal to all parties. and espe- cially to those who are anxious to know both sides of every public ques- ton. Is 1t not an experiment worth tryinRf The SO-CdliCu AhupPShNCAhP ner is very ant to become partisan Just before the election. This may suit the proprietor if he is anxious to make his paper a party organ. But It Is sure to disappolnt those who differ from him and who have become subscribers because of the claim of independence. If the proprietor honestly desires to .ake his paper out of politics and make 1t purely a newspaper, the bi- partisan plan enables him to carry out his purpose.
 such an editorial policy would be entirely in harmony with the news service which the Associated Press was organized to give; and for that req son, I present the suggestion at this banquet"
 MT. Bryan had something to say also upon the tarin and continued For a long while l was arguing tariff reform. when I could find mighty little support among the newspaper fraternity I found after awhile that 1 was too general, that to get the newspaper men with me. must be more specific.