The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-12

President Noyes of the Organization
Writes q Letter.

FFcSlOe0C NOyeS OF the Of&dmZat1On
Writes . Letter.
Lawrence, Kan, May ia letter
from Frank b. Noyes Of the Washing
ton ID. CO. Evening Star, president OF
the Associated Press. who had been in
vited to address the Kansas NewBpa-
per conference. was read before that
Organization at the University Of Kan
sas here today. The letter was as fol-
lows:
Washington. May z. 1914.
Mr.. Merle Thorpe, University Of Kan
sas, Lawrence, Kan.
Dear Mr.. Thorpe:
It Is q matter Of sincere regret to
me that I cannot be present at what
am sure will prove to be a most inter-
estiug and profitable conference.
You ask me, inasmuch as cannot be
with you in person, to write you my
views on the question you are to dis
cuss today and this I am glad to do
though I am not at all sure that I
correctly understand the meaning Of
the question.
As you give it to me it is divided into
two parts:
First. To what extent is a member
Of q press association entitled to mo-
nopoly Of news in a community?
MY answer to this is that no member
conceivable set of conditions be EN-
titled to monopoly of news in a COM
munity.
The question answers itself.
As a matter OF fact no such monopoly
exists and as an equal matter OF fact
no such monopoly could exist.
The news Of the world. like the news
Of the vicinity. Ia open to all.
1t 10 utterly impossible to mopopo~
lice it,
If the question is intended to read
ITO what extent Is a member Of q
olo< ~ RI ,1Hy
in a community Of news gathered by
the association of which it is a MEM
her?'' q different question IL presented.
I can only deal with this az an indi-
vidual who took part In the formation
Of the Associated Press (the present
organization).
object OF the A. p.
Our desire was to form q co-opera-
tive association of representatives OF
newspapers that should be the agency
| by which we could exchange news with
each other and jointly collect news for
our common use.
We conceive that we have an entire
right morally and legally to do this.
just as much right as paper in Phil
adelphia. a paper in Chicago and a pa
per in Washington have right to en-
ploy Mr.. Richard Harding Davis to go
| to Vera Cruz and send dispatches for
their joint use.
W
whether we will enlarge our groups by
the admission Of new members-as a
| matter Of fact our present membership
IL very much larger than when We or
ganized in 1900 though it now has only
about one-third the daily newspapers
| of the country represented in its men,
bership.
| We have provided a method by which
| new members may be elected.
My own view-and have consistent
" acted on that view-is that a men,
Der should be elected when it Is to the
benefit of the association generally.
This does not at all mean that
would admit every applicant. We
want our members individually to be
strong and solvent. 1t does not
strengthen or benefit the organiza-
ton to elect another member In q
field that will not support another pa
per.
| 1 have also repeatedly refused tc
vote for an applicant for membership
when I thought that his admission
would tend to break down a compel
ing news service.
| I see by your program that Mr.. Ir.
win is to speak on this subject.
greatly regret that / will not have
the pleasure Of hearing him-if only
for the purpose Of correcting some O
his misapprehensions as shown in s
recent article that appeared in Har
per's Weekly.
His Reply to Irwin.
i am sure, however. that Mr.. Ir
win will forgive me if take this op
portunity OF pointing out to hin
where he Is in error-at least from m.
point of view.
First-The success that was mad
Il by The Associated Press of Illinois un
der the leadership OF Victor r. Law
son and Melville E. Stone was not a
all due to any marked superiority il
news gathering.
1t was due to q determination tina
so far as the members OF that asso
citation were concerned their new
service should not be controlled by
private ownership-that it should II
fact be gathered for and by the news
papers and controlled by them an
non-profit making and this II true o
: the present organization and is 1t
basic principle.
ii Second-Mr. Irwin states that mos
, of the members OF The Associates
| Press hold what Is known as right
l Of protest" He il mistaken-on1y
small fraction Of the members hol
such rights.
sl Third-Mr. Irwin falls into a nc
surprising error. though 1t IL rathe
. surprising that writing as q suppose