The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-28
CHAPTER CvH.

Reader may of course skip this to his
| advantage unless he desires to read "A
| Twice Told Tale.'l
AS an introduction to the reprint,
and not heretofore printed. but pub
lished with the asked consent of the
General Manager there is this para
graph:
| Several months ago, the presiden-
tial campaign approaching, General
Manager Stone issued the following
Special Order to all Associated
Press newspapers, superintendent and
| correspondents:
THE revival of political activity attend
ant upon the approach of the national
campaign prompts me to call your atten-
ton to the necessity that the greatest
possible care be exercised to render the
service of The Associated Press efficient
| and non-partisan. Under no clrcum-
stances must correspondent SuHer MINI
self to be betrayed INTO any expression
of opinion which may be construed as
making for against any political party
or faction. There are general rules appii-
cable alike to all parties and Wen ulue.-
stood by all in authority in the ASSocla-
ton, and it is imperative that these rules
be closely observed to the end that the
report of The Associated Press shall at
all times present a fair, truthIul ana
wholly impartial story of each event
transpiring. The rule is spectre against
the transmission of editorial opinion upon
political or partisan matters The honor
of the General Manager and every otner
employee is involved in the strict oo-
servance of these rules
The Associated Press, with it's 500
newspapers and annual expenditure Oh
So, 100000 is a wonderful news orgaEI-
cation. There is nothing like it. al
though there are imitators. The AS
sociated Press makes no profit. 1t IS
not a stock company. 1t is the only
organization for the collection and dis
tribution of news. it is believed, which
is conducted without profit.
The Associated Press is purely
mutual and cooperative corporation
Its members being joined together sole
~ for the purpose of receiving and eN-
changing news, one with the other
There is no such thing as franchise,
merely a membership ard the Empor1a
Gazette, William Allen Whites paper,
has the same vote as any other paper,
large or small, in the organization on
every cor ceivable motion with one ex-
ception. The choosing of the directors,
and even for this he mas the same vote
as about 700 other papers.
The vote of the Emporia Gazette on
motions or resolutions effecting the
great organization counts just the Same
as a vote by the Chicago Tribune, no
mere, no less. There is no profit in the
business; assessments are made in the
proportion to size of city and other
natural conditions, sufficient to pay
the expense of the organization. If
surplus accumuIates. the assessment is
cut. If expenses are more, d larger
assessment IS levied.
The General Managers and the Direc-
tors of this great body constitute an
organization of newspaper men that is
probably net eXcelled in the world.
They are understood to be the very
best men in their business They work
faithfully without pay for the best of
the interests of the association With
the exception of the General Manager
and the Treasurer none is paid salary
The others receive merely a nominal
per diem AID railroad expenses when
they meet.
These directors represent every phase
Cf politics and at their lunch nour
some of the most wonderful shop
stories are told and stories are rela-
ted covering the drama, literature, art
and business.
The Directors generally meet in the
morning, take an hour for luncheon
and work again in the afternoon, I'M
til nearly 6 o'clock. At luncheon the
tension is relieved. Politics is tabooed
except foreign politics, for the reason |
that the board is composed of great |
newspaper men who are Republicans, !
Democrats and Independents and who
of ms
and conservatism, but who do not step |
upon each others toes, except in a
good natured way in the matter OF
politics.
The Associated Press Is positively |
it has no platform, nor |
creed. except to serve the interests Of
its members. A three days session with |
the board of directors is an education
in the newspaper business. Many of |
these directors go to Europe every year |
and when the directors meetings are |
called in October they have fine fund !
Of interesting information during the i
lunch hour
When business is on, the smallest pa
per receives all the consideration, at
-ention and effort needed to give it a
square deal. and in fact, the small pa
oers are given more consideration than
the larger ones because the larger
ones as a rule can take care of them
selves, while the smaller ones need
kindly attention at times.
The devotion of the president, gen
eral manager and directors to the work
Of the organization seems to be a work
Of love, and the constant effort is to
strive to do the right thing by every
paper and give the very best possible
news in the very quickest time and to