The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-05-03

thirty -ffeS newspa per columns In The
more important cities.
Fl The method OF collecting foreign
news has been greatly changed in re.
cent years. The Associated Press has
established regular bureaus OF its owr
in all the great news centers, aud now
maintains offices aud stans in London
i'aris. Berlin, Rome, st. Petersburg
Vienna. Toxic, Pekin, Mexico City and
Havana In addition to hundreds Or in
dividual correspondents scattered
throughout the wo!:--..
Sometimes Misunderstood.
While the Associated Press is gen
orally held In good esteem 1t has no;
been exempt from criticism and al
tack. II In campaign all the candi
dates, or their managers or press
agents did not accuse the Associated
Press OF the grossest partisanship as
against the particular candidacy In
which they we're interested. those
bearing the responsibilities OF the ser.
vice would feel convinced that some
thing was radically wrong and would
look with suspicion on the repor,
themselves.
The individual correspondent or re.
porter for given newspaper or Il
small group OF newspapers having 4
common bias may be permitted TO III,
Gnlse in partisanship or in propagan
da This is absolutely not TO be per
mitted in the Associated Press. Nc
bias OF any sort can be allowed. Our
function Is to supply our members
with news. not views: with news rs II
happeEs--not as we may want it ia
happen Intensely as its management
may sympathize with an ymovemcnt.
no propaganda in its behalf can be
tolerated. Very jealousy indeed does
the membership guard against their
agency going outside, It's allotted du-
ties and argus.eyed is the censorship
OF every handler Of our copy"
1t is not, naturally. TO be claimed
that no mistakes are made. They are
made and will be made. But in the
very nature OF the business. with the
heart SO worn upon the sleeve, letcc.
ton very swiftly follows and the mis-:
takes are few land far between.
The desire to enlist the Associated
Press in propaganda or advocacy is
usually to be found at the bottom Of
Criticisms Of It's service. Added to
this often is Instrumentation as to the
real facts and sometimes, though hap.
actual malice.
1t Is Not Monopoly.
From time to time some voice Is
raised denouncins the Associated
Press both as monopoly and because
1t is not monopoly and insisting that
II become monopoly by admitting to
its membership all desiring It's ser.
vice; the theory being thai, III stunt
way the activities of the association
impress it with public use and sub
jcct it TO the obligation of a common
carrier TO serve all Corners.
Fran an ethical stand point only.
then, is there anything improper, un.
safe or unwise in group of ncwspa
pcrs. large or small. associating them.
selves to do n thing that each must
otherwise do separately and OF 70.
serving 10 themselves the right to de.
,crnine to what extent the member.
ship of such a group shall be en,ars.
ed?
Al present about onc.third of the
daily newspapers Of the country are
represented by membership in the AS.
ISOLATED Press. There are n number
OF concerns engaged in the collection
and sale Of general news TO non.mem.
bers Of the Associated Press.
In nowise desiring to become any.
thing approaching monopoly, the AS.
ISOLATED Press has avoided even the
appearance of any competitive price
rivalry, admitting additional members
solely cn the ground OF 4 common ben
eft to the members O! 4 cooperative
lnStitution.
If the Associated Press could be heiC
as common carrier these news.seil
ing organizations would be wiped ou;
and the Associated Press would, II the