The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-30


Press has established regular bureaus of
its own In all the great news centers
and now maintains offices and stats in
London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, ST. Peters,
burg, Vienna, Toxic. Psking. Mexico City.
and Havana in addition to hundreds of
individual correspondents scattered
through the world.
1t Is probable that in the foreign news
field the extraordinary genius Of Melville
e. Stone, the general manager of the As
ISOLATED Press, has been most strixingly
exhibited. Just prior to the Russo-Japan-
ese war Mr.. Stone secured from the Car
of Russia the abolition of the censorship,
and newspaper men still remember the
remarkable franlSness with which the
Russian government gave out the news
Of Russias reverses in that conflict.
Orders expediting the messages OF the
Associated Press we're issued at his in
stance by the German, French, Italisn,
and Russian governments, and as re-
suit 1t has come TO be common for Euro
pean capitls to get the first news of
continental events through Associated
Press reports cabled back from New
York.
One beneficial result coming from this
more direct relationship is to be found
In the minimizing OF the i'll effect OF the
occasional outbreak Of some utterly In
consequential German, French, English,
or Japanese yellow sporadiealy abus-
ing the United States and its people.
Formerly profound significance of
widespread hostility was attached to such
outpourings. With the closer understand
ing that comes from more intimate knowl-
edge, we now understand the relative
Importance of the newspapers of other
countries as we are able to weigh and
grade our own
The disadvantage OF lack of news touch
is strikingly apparent in the relations OF
the United States with the Central and
South American nations These countries
secure their news of the United States by
way OF Europe and it consists mainly OF
murders, lynchings, and embezzlements,
The antipathy to the United States by
the people of these countries is undoubt-
edly largely due to the false perspective
given by their newspapers. If in truth
we were the kind of people they are led
to believe we are thy would be fully
justfid in their attitude.
It has been the aim of those intrusteu
with the management of the Associated
Fress to secure as its representatives both
at home and abroad men of high charac-
ter and attainments, and it may. think,
be fairly assumed that the reputation for
accuracy and fairness that its service en-
joys is largely to be attributed to an un-
Usual measure OF success In this endeaVor.
While the Associated Press Is generally
held in good esteem, | would not be un-
derstood as indicating that it has been
exempt from criticism and attack.
If in a campaign all the candidates,
or their managers or press agents did
not accuse the Associated Press of the
groseest partisanship as against the par
ticular candidacy in which they were
interested, those bearing the responsible
tiles of the service would feel convinced
that something was radically wrong and
would look with suspicion on the report
themselves.
This is but human nature. During the
last campaign for the Presidential NOM
inations every candidate either in person
or by proxy expressed his conviction that
the Associated Press was favorable to
somebody else.
Mr. Wilson's press agent asserted that
our service was Clark, and in the
opinion of Speaker Clark we had sold
out to the Wilson people. Mr.. Taft's
managers felt that he was not being
given fair show and Mr.. Roosevelt
was firm in his conviction that the ave-
nues of information had been choked to
his disadvantage.
OF course later we know that Mr.. Will
son does not share the only-for-publica-
ton views of his press agent and Speak
er Clark Is as emphatic In his with
Taft's managers realize charges. Mr..
Tafts managers realibe that the Asso-
ciated Press cannot report speeches that
he does not make, and Mr. Roosevelt
must see humorous side to the sug
gestion that any one has interfered with
his getting u fairly adequate represen-
tation on the first page.
with all this, however. goes funda-
mental misunderstanding of the func-
tions of the Associated Press. The in
dividual correspondent or reporter for
given newspaper or small group of
newspapers having a common bias may
be permitted to indulge In partisanship
or in propaganda.
This IL absolutely not TO be permitted
in the Associated Press. No bias of any
sort can be allowed. Our function is TO
supply our members with news. not
views; with news as it happens-not as
we may want it to happen. Intensely az
its management may sympathize with
any movement. no propaganda in it's be-
half can be tolerated. Very jealousy
indeed does the membership guard
against their agency going outside its al
lotted duties and argus eyed is the CEN
sorship 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 ma
ture of the business, with the heart SO
worn upon the sleeve. detection very
swiftly follows and the mistakes are
few and far between.
The desire to enlist the Associated
Press in propaganda or advocacy is usu-
ally to be found at the bottom of criti-