Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-26

adopt other provisions. But in any event, while the fix
ing Of a minimum would be rather simple, the establish
ment of a maximum would be complicated.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
The annual meeting Of the Associated Press was held
in New York on Tuesday. The Associated Press is the
greatest news gathering agency in the world. While it
is purely an American organization, its correspondents
every American newspaper reader. and it is perhaps
more widely and frequently discussed than any other
large institution in the country. And yet not more than
one person in fifty has anything but the most remote con-
ception of what the Associated Press is or how it OPP
crates.
Among the statements frequently made with refer
ence to the Associated Press are that it is a gigantic mo-
nopoly, that it is owned in England, that it distorts news,
and that it is the agent of the money trust. The Herald
has discussed these and other charges at different times.
but it may be proper to devote a few lines to the subject
at this time.
The Associated Press is a purely mutual association
Of newspaper owners created for the purpose of collect
ing news and distributing it to its members. No stock in
the concern exists. 1t makes no profits and pays no div
idends. To receive the regular service Of the Associated
Press one must be a member of the association, and, as
a member, he stands on a basis of exact equality with all
other members, and has one vote, and only one, in all
general meetings. The owner of the smallest daily in the
country, who is a member of the association, has the
right to attend, and is urged to attend all association
meetings, and his vote there. on any subject, counts for
exactly as much as does the vote Of the owner of the
great metropolitan paper in New York. Chicago or New
Orleans.
"SH''SAS Nv Nv wy liz" LAC oOSAdSC ITC6o.
They receive news and are assessed their proper proper
ton Of the cost Of collection and distribution. This as
sessment is based on the quantity Of matter received and
the size of the field covered by the paper. The object is
to pay current expenses. and, in ordinary times, to create
a reserve fund which may be drawn upon in emergencies
such, for instance, as is created by the demands of the
present war.
The management of the association is vested in a
board Of directors who are elected at the annual meet
ing. Any member may be a candidate for the position Of
director. The procedure is similar to that employed In
most societies and cOrnOrafiOna excapf that fp <hIS n.s
each member has but one vote.
In the membership there are newspaper men Of
every shade of political opinion and representing every
shade of belief on almost all subjects. This catholicity
Of sentiment is quite accurately reflected on the director
ate. AS might be expected from the plan of organiza-
ton, the directors come from every great section of the
country, are men of recognized standing and ability in
the newspaper world, and are Of many parties, creeds and
policies.
The executive work is in the hands Of a general man.
ager who is chosen by tho directors, under whose general
supervision he works.
These are the essential features of the organization.
There are, Of course, various boards and committees, dis
trict managers. and so forth. but the supreme control is
vested in the board Of directors, who are elected by the
individual votes Of the members.
The Associated Press is a monopoly only in the sense
that any other cooperative concern is a monopoly which
has been organized by its own members. which exists
solely for the furtherance Of their own work, and which
Is managed exclusively by them.
1t is not owned in England, or in Germany, or any,
where but in the United States, where its members live
and do business.
1t does not distort news. 1t cannot do 80 and live.
The cosmopolitan character of its membership makes it
imperative that its work be carried on without bias. II
this were not done many Of its members would become
dissatisfied, and would resign. and there would be lost
the advantage which comes from the economy Of oper-
ating on a large scale.
This also applies to the charge that the association
is the agent of any special interest. Such a thing is i'm
possible in an association organized as this is.
BY reason of its large membership the Associated
Press is able to carry on its operations on a scale I'M
equalled elsewhere. 1t has local correspondents in every
town Of considerable size in the United States. It has
representatives in every important foreign center. It has
a small army Of trained men on the various battle fronts.
1t charters ships and special trains and cables and tele-
graph lines. Its business is to get news. to make sure of
Its accuracy. and to report 1t faithfully and promptly.
The Associated Press reports are received over ape-
cial wires in scores Of newspaper ofnces. among them that
Of The Herald. They are published, word for word, in
all these journals, regardless of the political or otner
character Of the paper. There the responsibility of the
Associated Press ends. Every editor is at liberty to
place his own construction on the news which he receives,
and to comment on 1t. at his pleasure. And the varied
character Of the membership is shown in the variety OF
the comment. in the varying interpretations Of the same
facts. reported In the same way, by different editors.
The Associated Press is one Of the foremost instru-
ments of service to the public. because it places befo=s
the public the important facts in the doinSs Of this great
world Of ours. and thus makes possible a clear under
standing Of what the world 10 doing.
The careful observer sees the guiding hand Of destiny
In the affairs of the world. It IL time for the citizen to
do his full duty according TO his opportunities, ana b. a
factor In the great changss being wrought At this time
~ making history. s@#
land Will BE- idle for lack OF machinery. The scarcity
Eof farm laborsrs makes rnors' machinery necessary. From
now on. the demand for fam trnplsmsnts ana raachinsry
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