The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-06
WAS FAIR To PACT
NcwSpapersDidn't SuppreSS
Facts About Reciprocity.
PUBLIC HEARINGS END
Herman Ridder and Melville Stone
Say no Attempt Was Made to
Color News in Fav 7 Of
Treaty

Washington, June G.-Puhlic hear
ings on the Canadian reciLe,city oil
were concluded by the senate finance
committee. representatives, OF the
American Newspaper Publishers as
sociation and OF the Associated Press
being the last to appear before the
committee
Both Herman Rldder, until recently
president OF the American Newspaper
Publishers association. and Melville
T.. Stone. general manager Of the AS
ISOLATED Press. testified that I'm their
opinion no effort had been made by
the newspapers OF the country to pre-
sent only one side OF the reciprocity
argument. to color their reports on the
question or to suppress any facts that
were of news value.
Seek Freedom From Trust.
The chief interest which the news.
papers OF the country have in the mat
ter. Mr. Ridder told the committee. Is
their desire to free themselves from
the paper manufacturers trust. which
now, he added. mas the publishers at
its mercy. The readers Of the country
would benefit by cheaper paper. a.
well as the publishers. he declared,
because the money saved on paper
could be used TO furnish a larger and
better news service.
At one point Mr. Ridder charged
that a representative OF the Interna-
tiOnal Paper company had perlured
himself and characterized the men
whom he charged with conducting the
paper trust as "a gang OF thieves
Mr.. Rldder acknowledged that the
American Newspaper Publishers as
ISOLATION had sent out bulletins and
letters urging the passage Of the reci-
procity measure. But ! would not
have favored the measure" he said.
III | had not thought II would be OF
benefit to the country as a whole, In
dependent ~ my interest In 1t as q
newspaper publisher"
When Mr. Ridder attacked the pa
per trust. which he said limited the
output. fixed the price and told pub
Usher where he must buy his paper,
both Senators McCumber and Bailey.
opponents Of the bill. declared that II
there was such trust they wanted
TO see II prosecuted by the govern
ment
Mr.. Stone testified that no instrus-
tlons had been sent out TO Associated
Press correspondents as 10 Canadian
reciprocity. except that they had been
told 10 send any important matter
connected with It because OF the gen
eral interest in the subject All re-
ports. he said. we're supposed To be
recital Of facts on their news value
only.
Taft Opposes Amendment.
To Senator Stone OF Missouri. Pres
ident Taft again made IL clear that he
Is opposed 10 any amendment what
soever 10 the Canadian reciprocity
agreement
Senator Stone had heard a report
that administration opposition 10 the
Root amendment was not entirely sin
cere. and that Senator Root had been
assured privately that the president
would not be displeased II his amend
ment were adopted.
Il came to the White House" said
the senator, TO find out for myself
whether the president was in earnest
in opposing the Root amendment. And
| found out He told me that he was
against the amendment proposed by
Senator Root and would be against
any proposition by any other senator,
Democrat or Republican"