East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-10-24

ancy OF youth Is the main pillar of the
United Press MIR. Howard himself
is now in his twenty-ninth year, and
for six years has been the editorial
head of this agency, which embraces
a membership Of more than AIS af-
ternOOn newspapers, with large ad-
ded clientele Of Sunday morning
newspapers The average age Of his
large staff Of editors and correspond
ents in America and Europe is con-
siderably under thirty years AS a
boy Mr.. Howard was a cub reporter
on the indianapolis News, and later
was sporting editor Of the star, in the
same city With rapid strides he pass
ed 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 York as
n correspondent of the Scripps- Nc
Rae League. A few months later the
United Press association was formed
through the amalgamatiOn of three
evening news agencies, and Mr.. How
ward became the New York manager
Since that time he has by successive
promotions come TO be the head of
the concern and chairman Of its
board of directors.
Every successful nusiness-certainly
every newspaper-must work toward
an ideal. The slogan Of the United
Press is get the truth" But what is
the truth? 1t Is not always possible
to tell. and the United Press editor,
like everyone else, merely strives for
the attainment Of the ideal. He does
1t conscientiously and no sincere bus
mess man in his private correspon-
dence strives more diligently to hon
estly represent his private interests
than the United Press man endeavors
truthfully to report the affairs of pub
lie interest He may write about
what is visual. quote from the sayings
or writings of people, and give such
definite conclusions as he may be sure
of He must tell both sides, all sides,
of every question and never advocate.
He lays down the facts. and his read
ers 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 entitl-
ed to the truth. and that the publi-
cation of the whole truth is the most
important cog in the machine of dem
ocracy.
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 it as extraordinary
news. and reported to its papers in al
sections of the country full details OF
the great struggle between the textile
manufacturers and $4,000 revolving
employees When the strike develop.
ed a situation which not only outrag-
/ ed the broad humanitarion impulses
of the American people, but violated
} the constitutional rights of individu-
ais involved the United Press was true
/ to its responsibility, and as a result
of its accurate representation of that
labor conflict the whole nation was
aroused. 1t was unpleasant news
and the lines of prejudice and special
interest were tightly drawn. Every
/ department of the city and state gov
ernments seemed to be working ac-
lively against the strikers; the police
were not above misrepresentation;
/ higher city officials were silent or ac-
tually misinformative; mill officials
gave biased statements; the strike
! leaders made large claims. and the
section OF the press that swallows Big
Business whole misrepresented the sit
uation outrageously. on the theory
that a free press cannot maintain its
prestige as the Fourth Estate on g
regimen of news deceit. misrepresen.
tation, or cOncealment, the establish,
ed policy of the United Press called
for reports written without favor ol
fear, describing all sides of that con
flict Thus the nation was aroused tC
a situation in a sister mommonwealtl
] W Htltln IlSIlS were De
ing ignored, parents denied the privi
lege of transporting their children t,
another state, and men and womeI
mercilessly dubbed for no offense
and, in fact, official anarchy reigneC
in sorry contrast to the fine spirit o
democracy ad brotherly love exhibited
by the polyglot mass of striking men
women and children.
AS the United Press was the onl,
news agency to give the newspaper
of the country the whole truth abou
Lawrence, and as II is known that
was the reading of these account
that moved Senator Miles PoindeXte
personally 10 investigate Lawrence
il is fair to state that it was this eX
pcsure that resulted in congressional
Interference and inquiry. and the fed
eral probe by Commissioner Charlie
p Neil Of the Department of Labor
This illustration of the positiv
democratic necessity of free and in
dependent reporting of news fact
has many counterparts in the histor
of the United Press Association.
recent conspicuous example. from an
other point of view, but perhaps quit