New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
Tells National City Editors
Association Especial In
terests" Control Papers
Vanderlip MakesReply
President Of National City
Bank Would Emigrate to
Russia if Mayor Is Right

Editors Association last night at its
dinner at the Hotel Majestic. sent a
letter in which he wrote that practical
ly all of the large newspapers are con-
trolled by the special privilege-seeking
interests" and that the fact had been
discovered by the people, particularly
in New York. He advised the city edl-
tors to adopt policy of fearlessness'
honesty and independence In presenta-
ton of the news.
The Mayors accusations brought a
prompt rejoinder from Frank A. Van
derlip, president of the National City
Bank and father of the war savings
stamp idea, who said, when his turn
came to speak:
"When 1 hear of the low state of the
public press as disclosed by the Mayor,
the low state Of justice, l can recall
having heard nothing worse in Russia,
and IF / accepted the Mayors state
ment as the fact, if I really believed
that the Mayor pictured the real state
of affairs here, | would be looking upon
Russia as fair place to which TO emil
grate."
Newspaper bulletins were as lmpor-
tant as bullets in winning the war, Mr..
Vanderlip declared He emphasized the
necessity of bringing home the sense
of personal responsibility to lndivld-
uals. pointing the results of the war
savings stamp campaign as an instance
of what individual sacrifice can accom-
plish in the aggregate. Withln rev
days, he said, enough OF the stamps
had been sold to pay for the hog ISL
and shipyard, the largest in the world
and for the $50 ships that were to be
turned out there this year. The United
States would never have to stop fght-
ing for lack of money, he said; Its
financial stability amazed the world.
The Mayors Letter
The Mayor directed his "regrets" to
cIvde 2 Steen. president of the asso-
ciation. His suggestions follow:
81 would like to offer word or sug--
gestion. which l hope will be received
in the spirit in which it is intended by
the great men who control the destinies
of the papers throughout the country.
The daily readers have assumed tnat
the papers they rec are lndependen''
unbiased, truthful and fair IN their
articles and editorials. However, their
confidence has been shaken by ms,
representation, biased and untruthtul
news and editorials which have been
arA are at intervals appearing IN the
press.
naper is controlled and Influenced by
certain interests that are more inter
ested in the special privilege seeker
than in the people. In many instances
this is true. brought about, no doubt,
by Sthe financial condition of a partic-
ular paper, whose owners are unable to
L.
paner to make a profit, and who are
compelled to rely upon the subsidy
furnished in one form or another by
certain interests who are protiteering
upon the people. This makes the paper
a plant tool of the interests and is
used to mislead the people.
"Distorted, Colored Articles"
The management of the paper, with
this policy in mind, sends out the
news gatherer on mission with in
strnctions. The facts gathered are
distorted and the articles colored in
accordance with instructions and in
accordance with the prejudices Of the
individual newsgatherer, thereby get
ting away from the purpose Of dis
serninating fair and unbiased news.
The editorial writer likewise colors his
editorial to suit the interests of the
paper and his employer. The people
in small community quickly discover
the gossip-m -monger and the talebearer,
and such person is discredted and has
no standing in the community.
THE people have discovered, particu-
larry in New York, that practically all
or the large. newspapers are controlled
by the special privilege seeking inter
esta, and have as little regard and little
respect for the truthfulness and fair
ness of such papers as they have for
the gossip monger and trouble maker
in q small community This shaken
confidence and the belief that the press
ls.controlled to great extent by those
who are profiteering in the necessities
OF hfe are causing great and most seri-
ouss unrest among the people
h Regain Public Confidence
~ I'm order for the press to regain the
n confidence of the people, they must
trst of all adopt a policy which will
make their papers honest, fearless and
independent in the presentation Of
news. sincerely hope that the great
men who are connected with the papers
of the United States will appreciate
thiS necessity and use their influence
against the profiteering interests that
are controlling the necessities of life
and exploiting the people.
Permit me to make this suggestion
at this time: Would it not be wise for
return to the days when our writer's
and molders of public thought on mat
ters affecting public questions appear
ing in the daily papers sign the same
with their names ?"
Judge J. Raymond Tiffany, of the
National Defence Society, told how
that organization is helping to stamp
out German propaganda in this coun-
try:
THE American Defence Society" he
xaid, fights constantly to arouse
America TO her peril and the need Of
an unlimited army to be sent abroad
70 win this war. 1t believes that while
cur boys are fighting over there we
should be cleaning up over here, coun-
teracting disloyal influence, arousing
public opinion to demand that spies,
profiteers, disloyal legislators and
every person at all unloyal be fully
and adequately punished"
Wilson Writes "Ad"
How President Wilson had been i'm
pressed into service as an "ad" writer
by the Liberty Loan Committee was re-
lated by Guy Emerson, director Of Pub
licity Of the Liberty Loan Committee.
ne Presidents "ad" will make it's
appearance when the Fourth Liberty
Loan drive is launched.
when the President writes an nd
verkisement 1t is an exceptional thing"
said Mr. Emerson. But in war times
mc must do exceptional things, and put,
ting q ringing editorial in Il box on the
first page IL the kind Of exceptional
thIng which would suggest TO you az
ynrfbu nj 4tteratirp IN acfv -, -