The Detroit times., 1912-10-24

One Of the most interesting and TO
hantic figures in the quasi-public life
4 the newspaper profession is Roy
N. Howard. general manager OF the
nited Press associations. The
uoyancy OF youth Is the main pillar
the United Press. Mr.. Howard
imself is now in his twenty-nintt
ear, and for six years has been the
ditorial head OF this agency, which
mbraces a membership OF more thar
76 afternoon newspapers, with Z
krge added clientele OF Sunday morn
hg newspapers. The average age ol
d large star OF editors and CORE
bondents In America and Europe ID
bpsiderably under 80 years. AS q
py Mr.. Howard was cub reportel
b the Indianapolis News, and later
as sporting editor OF the Star, in
e same city. With rapid strides he
Rssed through the various reportorial
pa subeditor experiences In the en-
Joy OF newspapers In Indianapolis
Louis, and Cincinnati, and In
arch, 1906, found himself In New
ork as correspondent of the
ertpps-M -McRae league. A. few months
ter the United Press associations
as formed through the amalgamation
three evening news agencies, and
r. Howard became the New York
anager. Since that time he has by
lccessive promotions come to be the
pad Of the concern and the chair
an OF Its board OF directors.
Every successfwul business-cer.
tnly every newspaper-must work
ward an ideal. The slogan of the
nited Press is get the truth" But
hat Is the truth? II Is not always
bssible to tell, and the United Press
itor, like everyone else, merely
riyes for the attainment of the
eal. He does II conscientiously
Id no sincere business man In his
|ivate correspondence strives more
ligently TO honestly represent his
ivate Interests than the United
-ess man endeavors truthfully to re-
Prt the affairs of public interest. He
hy write about what Is visual, quote
pm the sayings or writings of peo-
e, and give such definite conclu-
bns as he may be sure of. He must
II both sides, all sides, of every
estion and never advocate. He
Hs down the facts, and his readers
by draw .heir own conclusions.
mission OF important news facts In
htamount 10 suppression, and Mr..
bward holds his editors and report.
guilty OF failure quite as strictly
+ the sin of omission as for any
her fault. He contends that the
wspapers that he serves are entitled
the truth, and that the publication
the whole truth is the most i'm.
rtant cog in the machine Of democ-
cy.
A concrete example of the vital pub
Importance OF this policy was
own recently in the instance of the
rike OF the textile workers at Law.
nee, Mass. From the outset of that
wv celebrated conflict the United
ess regarded 1t as extraordinary
ws, and reported to Its papers In
sections of the country full details
the great struggle between the
ktile manufacturers and $4,000 re.
lting employees.
On the theory that free press
nnot maintain its prestige through
ws deceit, Misrepresentation, or
ncealment. ,the established policy
the United Press called for reports
ritten without favor or fear, de
ribing all sides Of that conflict.
AS the United Press was the only
ws agency to give the newspapers
A. co,,nt rr the xyh01a tr,tHh about
wrence, and as It is known that II
Is the reading OF these accounts
ht moved Senator Miles Poindexter
rsonally to investigate Lawrence
Is fair TO state that It was this ex'
sure that resulted In congressional
reference and inquiry, and the
ieral probe by Commissioner Chas
Neill Of the department Of labor.
This Illustration OF the positive
mocratic necessity OF free and in
pendent reporting Of news facts
many counterpnrts in the history
the United Press associations. a
cent conspicuous example, from
other point of view, but perhaps
lite as vital to public policy, was
report the United Press CORE
ondents cabled OF the coronation ol
ing George and Queen Mary. The
nerican newspaper men of the con
ntional school on that occasion
red highly colored word pictures oi
splendid spectacle, the sparkling
hpplngs of the royal family, beauty
the women, awesome dignity OF
men. gaiety OF the crowds, and
worshipful homage or the kings
bjects, cheering, madly waving
es. and tossing hats as the gor
ous pageant traversed the labyrinth
vibrating humanity In London's
reefs. The correspondents Of the
bited Press, all Amerfcan-trained
that occasion reported all that was
he of the brilliancy and dignity OF
q occasion: but they also saw In
= event news facts which had ed
ned rival correspondents and were
especial importance 70 Americas
he United Press papers tnat eyea
told. among other things, of the
ormous expenditures made for the
travagant coronation display. truth
Iiv estimated the enthusiasm Of the
bwds nom observation rather thar
bm preconceiyed ideas, and these
arp-eyed American reporters did
miss the fact that lunch baskets
rown away by prosperous English
bn seated In the expensive stree,
bnds were eagerly seized and rifiec
crumbs by half-sttrved men and
bmen of the miserable London army
unemployed people.