The Detroit times., 1912-10-25

One OF the most interesting and ro-
mantle figures in the quasi-public life
OF the newspaper profession 10 Roy
w. Howard. general manager OF the
United Press associations. The
buoyancy OF youth Is the main pillar
OF the United Press. Mr.. Howard
himself is now in his twenty-ninth
year, and for six years has been the
editorial head OF this agency, which
embraces q membership OF more than
476 afternoon newspapers, with q
large added clientele of Sunday morn
ing newspapers. The average age OF
his large stan OF editors and corre-
spondents III America and Europe is
considerably under 30 years. AS q
boy Mr. Howard was q cub reporter
on the Indianapolis News. and later
was sporting editor OF the Star, in
the same city. With rapid strides he
passed through the various reportorial
ana subeditor experiences in the en-
ploy Of newspapers in indianapolis.
st. Louis, and Cincinnati, and in
March, 1906, found himself In New
Scripps- McRae league. A few months
later the United Press associations
was formed through the amalgamation
OF three evening news agencies, and
Mr.. Howard became the New York
manager. Since that time he has by
successive promotions come To be the
head Of the concern and the chair
man OF Its board Of directors.
Every successfwul business-cer-
tainly every newspaper-must work
toward an ideal. The slogan of the
United Press is get the truth" But
what is the truth? II Is not always
possible to tell. and the United Press
editor, like everyone else, merely
strives for the attainment of the
ideal He does II conscientiously,
and no sincere business man in his
private correspondence strives more
diligently to honestly represent his
private interests than the United
Press man endeavors truthfully to re-
port the affairs of public interest. He
may write about what is visual, quote
from the sayings or writings OF peo-
pie, and give such definite conclu-
slons as ho may be sure OF. He must
tell both sides, all sides, OF every
question and never advocate. He
lays down the facts, and his readers
may draw their own conclusions.
Omission of important news facts Is
tantamount TO suppression, and Mr..
Howard holds his editors and report.
ers guilty OF failure quite as strictly
for the sin of omission as for any
other fault He contends that the
newspapers that he serves are entitled
TO the truth, and that the publication
OF the whole truth is the most inn
portant cog in the machine of democ-
racy
A concrete example Of the vital pub
lie Importance Of this policy was
shown recently in the instance of the
strike OF the textile workers at Law
renee, Mass. From the outset OF that
now celebrated conflict the United
Press regarded 1t as extraordinary
news, and reported to It's papers in
all sections of the country full details
OF the great struggle between the
textile manufacturers and $4,000 re-
voting employees.
On the theory that a free prese
cannot maintain its prestige through
news deceit, Misrepresentation, or
-
Of the United Press called for reports
written without favor or fear, de-
scribing all sides Of that conflict.
AS the United Press was the only
news agency to give the newspapers
Of the country the whole truth about
Lawrence, and as II is known that 1t
was the reading OF these accounts
that moved Senator Miles Poindexter
personally to investigate Lawrence.
II Is fair to state that II was this ex-
posure that resulted in congressional
interference and inquiry, and the
federal probe by Commissioner Chas.
p. Neill Of the department Of labor.
This illustration OF the positive
democratic necessity of free and in
dependent reporting Of news facts
has many counterparts In the history
Of the United Press associations. A
recent conspicuous example, from
another point of view, but perhaps
quite as vital to public policy, was
the report the United Press CORE
spondents cabled OF the coronation of
King George and Queen Mary. The
American newspaper men of the con-
ventional school on that occasion
wired highly colored word pictures or
the splendid spectacle. the sparkling
trappings Of the royal family. beauty
OF the women, awesome dignity OF
the men, gsiety Of the crowds, and
the worshipful homage 0r the kings
subjects, cheering, madly waving
fises. and tossing hats as the gor-
geous pageant traversed the labyrinth
of vibrating humanity In London's
streets. The correspondents Of the
United Press, AL Amerfcan-trained,
ON that occasion reported all that was
true of the brilliancy and dignity OF
the occasion; but they also saw in
the event news facts which had es-
capped rival correspondents and were
of especial importance 10 Americans.
The United Press papers tnat eveh-
ing told, among other things. OF the
enormous expenditures made for the
extravagant coronation display, truth
fully estimated the enthusiasm OF the
crowds from observation rather than
from preconceived ideas, and these
sharp-eyed American reporters did
not miss the fact that lunch baskets
thrown away by prosperous English
men seated in the expensive street
stands were eagerly seized and rihed
for crumbs by half-stilrved men and
women of the miserable London army
Of unemployed people.