The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-06-06
BY Associated Press.

Washington, June 5.-Public hear
ings on the Canadian reciprocity bill
were concluded before the senate fl
nance committee today, representatives
of the American Newspaper Publish
ers' Association and the Associated
Press being the last to testify. Secre-
tary of State Knox, at the request Of
Bailey, was asked to explain tomorrow
If the Root amendment to a section of
the bill Is in full accord with the
agreement of the commissioners who
prepared the treaty.
Herman Ridder, formerly president
of the publishers association, and Mel
Vile e. Stone, general manager of the
Associated Press, stated that in their
opinion no efforts were made on the
part of the newspapers of the country
to present only one side of the reci-
procity argument, to color reports, or
suppress facts of news value. Bruce
Haldeunan, president of the publishers
association, and Frank B. Noyes, pres
ident Of the Associated Press, also apA
peared- Ridder declared the chief in
terest Of the newspapers in this coun-
try was to free themselves from the
papers manufacturers trust" and
stated that the readers would be bene-
fitted.
Stone testified that no instructions
were sent Associated Press corre-
reciprocity agreement. except to send
important matter of general interest
to the public. He said all reports
were supposed to be a recital of facts
on a news value.
Mr.. Ridder had not proceeded far
when Senator McCumber of North Da-
kota startled the committee by chal-
longing one of his statements as an
absolute falsehood."
a quick protest from Senators Stone
and Bailey who declared that wit
neases should not be insulted.
MrpeTaAdder had made the statement
that the newspapers of the country
and the publishers association had not
attempted to suppress facts or to color
stories sent from Washington on the
subject of reciprocity when Senator
McCumber interrupted with his charge
of falsehood. Several senators insisted
that Mr.. McCumber's remarks should
be stricken from the record.
Senator McCumber agreed to have
his, remarks changed so as to make
them read that what Mr.. Ridder said
was "unfounded."
Mr.. Ridder, in reply to questions
from members of the committee, de-
cIared that he, as president of the
publishers association, had sent out
WOTQ TO Lne In0IlDeIS VI IIAe dSSOOid-
tion telling them the reciprocity agree
ment was of vital Importance.
But l would not have favored the
agreement" added Mr.. Ridder, IF /
had not thought 1t would be of good
to the whole country independent of
my interest in it as newspaper pub
Usher"
Mr. Ridder declared that while he
was in favor of reciprocity as a whole,
his reason as a newspaper man for
urging it's, passage was so that he
might get out of the clutches of the
paper trust"
S"Have you ever made an effort. F"
asked Senator Bailey, ito have the
paper trust punished by the depart
nent of justice?"
yes" replied Mr.. Ridder. 81 had SO
paper-makers in New York indicted
and they paid $4,000 apiece These
were manufacturers of various kinds
possible as yet to prove legally that a
white paper trust exists"
would you be satisfied" asked Sen
ator Hepburn, ''if the pare trust were
punished in some other way than by
the passage of the reciprocity agree
ment?"
.I want help during my lifetime" :"
Sid Mr. Ridder. Il have not yet seen
any trust magnate go to jail. 1 favor
the measure so that l may buy paper
In the open market. l don't intend, If
/ can help it, to let the paper trust
dictate to me what l must pay for
paper.