The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-26
rHE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Prvw me Outlook Of Fsbrvsry =.

FvUNp fhe OUTLOOK OF feOVWSV -
Most readers Of the daily papers are
familiar with the fact that the control
ling power In the dissemination Of the
news IL largely vested. by right Of con-
quest, In the Associated Press There IL
widespread popular feeling, we believe.
that the task OF handling the 'stories"
Of current history Ia done In an Impartial
and accurate manner. This. Indeed.
whatever the facts, would naturally be
expected, for when only the defendant
is given power and opportunity for speech
there Ia likelihood that. no matter how
fairly he attempts to state the Issues
involved, his presentation Of the case
against himself will be distorted by per-
sonal prejudice. We make this state
ment, not In direct criticism Of the AS
ISOLATED Press but as an Indication OF
! the possibilities for evil inherent In any
monopoly Of the sources OF news. Monop-
oily Of the distribution of news Ii fraught
with greater danger to q democracy rhan
almost any other combination OF COM
mercial interests. News 10 the stun Of
which public thought 10 made. Tainted
news means Inevitably tainted opinions.
The editors OF such an organization
as the Associated Press must OF course
/ exercise their discretion as to what has
/ news value. just As the editors Of this
journal must use their Judgment as to
/ what shall appear In the Outlook Mrs
Ciimber-Jones OF Suburbton may believe
that the linen shower given her daugh-
ter Lille Is an AFFAIR OF such Importance
that 1t warrants teiegraphing a four col
umn story to the ends OF the earth. and
the stan of any news bureau can diner
with her without prejudice to their repu-
tstion for fair dealing Just as the editors
OF the Outlook differ not infrequently
with authors as to the literary value OF
the wares they bring to this office. There
is a difference. however between editing
the news and coloring the news--either
by suppression or distortion.
An incident Of the latter kind the Out
look brought to the attention OF Its read
ers during the last Presidential cam
paign. The Secretary Of War. Mr.. SLIM
son, was widely quoted as making certain
offensive personal remarks concerning
Mr.. Roosevelt. When he discovered these
quotations" he Immediately asked the
Associated Press TO publish a nat denial
OF the alleged quotation. No such denial
was made by the news service OF the As
ISOLATED Press. Mr. Stimson. In order to
secure publicity for his denial. then wrote
the Outlook concerning the facts OF the
case, and the outlook published his state
ment with severe condemnation OF the
action OF the Associated Press Mr. Mel
VILE T.. Stone, general manager OF tina,
organization. sent to the Outlook letter
saying that the false report OF the re-
marks made by the Secretary OF War
was not disse mi mated by the Associated
Press but BY special correspondents. and
added: 1T Is true that We did not cor
rect the error because II was not our
error and In my judgment II would have
been no kindness to Secretary Stmsor
II We had attempted to do So" In this
instance the editors of the Associated
Press ventured TO plgeonho,c an impor'
tant announcement made by a Cabinet
official. for the reason thar they person
ally did not regard this announcement
as advantageous to the Cabinet Minister
in question. This was not a case OF ed
torship, but OF impairment censorship.
This discussion OF the activities of tn,
Associated Press IL made apropos Of tho
brief OF a complaint nled by the Sur
Printing and Publishing Association with
the Attorney General According to TIL
SUN, the Associated Press has beer
equally oppressive In it's actions TOWARD
other news agencies and toward Other
competing corporations which II re-
gsrded as hostile TO Its interests The
brief OF THY Sun alleges that the collec
, ton OF news throughout the world ant
its distribution to American newspapers
for publication Is an act of commerce
between the states. and as such comes
within the application of the Sherman
antitrust law.
THE Sun recites al length the histor,
OF tho Associated Press and It's affiliated
predecessors from lsAs. date shortl,
after the demonstrated practicablity OF
, the magnetic telegraph. to. the presen
, day. In particular The SUN calls atten
ton TO a decision OF the Supreme Cour
III Illinois. under the laws Of which STATE
the Associated Press held It's charter pre-
vlous to the year 1910, which states tina
the larter corporation was engaged In I
business upon which public interest II
engrafted.' and upon principles OF Jus
tice II can make no distinction VIII
respect TO persons who wish to purchase
! Information and news for purposes o
publication which il was created TO fur
nsh" THE SUN then proceeds to describe
the immediate reorganization OF the Asso
clated Press under the laws OF New Yori
following this decision. with PRACTICAL!
the same officers and stockholders TIL
sun alleges that the Associated Pres
in Its new form still continues to kee,
In force it's rule, which tho Illinois cour
. found so Objectionable. OF limiting tn
number OF subscribers to Its service. and
, likewise, that II still maintains a bylaw
which is either in force or. II nominal,
1 abrogated, is yet part OF the common
understanding and contract OF its mem
. t-rs. which reads THAT no member o
the association shah receive news from
4 any person. firm or corporation while
2 shall have been declared by the board o
directors or the stockholders 10 be antag
onistic to the corporation" THE SUI
further alleges instances OF "unlawfu
and malicious boycott maintained againS
, IT'S own press service covering the year