The sun., 1918-08-25
HYLAN CALLS PRESS
TOOL OF PROFTTEER
Writes City Editors That
Newspapers Are Lacking
in Truth.
BLAMES THE OWNERSHIP
Says Nearly All New York
Dailies Are Controlled by
Special Interests.

Mayor Hylan's interesting belief thai
newspapers are ''tools Of the profiteerine
interests" engaged in misleading the pub
lie was set forth in letter written b,
him and politely received by the member.
CT the New York State branch of the
National City Editors Association. who
started a two days convention at tn,
Hotel Majestic yesterday.
Apparently Mr.. Hylan does not ever
exempt the Hearst newspapers from his
complaint (Which Is not accompanied
by bill Of particularly, for he says
The people have discovered. particu.
larly in New York. that practically ali
of the large newspapers are controlled
by special privilege seeking interests"
Frank A Vanderlip, president Of tn,
National City Bank and chairman OF tn,
national war savings committee. lis
tened with an amused smile while the
Mayors letter was read by the president
of the association. Clyde p. Steen OF
Lima, Ohio. When Mr.. Vanderlip wa,
introduced he said:
when hear of the low state Of tn,
public press as described by the Mayor
Of the low state Of Justice that prevails
1t seems TO me that we have heard
nothing worse about Russia. II &C.
cepted those statements as facts. II
really believed that was the state OF
affairs here, i don't know what but I'd
be looking upon Russia as a good place
to emigrate to-" tApplause.]
After regretting that he could not
personally attend the convention and as
chief executive of the city extend a
welcome. the Mayor wrote:
Il would like to offer a word or sug-
gestion which / 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 people for many years past have
looked to your association to guide and
advise them in all matters OF public i'm
portance and benefit.
Says Confidence IL shaken.
THE daily readers have assumed that
the papers they read are independent.
unbiased. truthful and fair In their ar
ticles and editorials. However. their
confidence has been shaken by misrep-
resentation. biased and untruthful news
and editorials which have been and are
at intervals appearing in the press. They
believe that the policy Of the paper is
controlled and Influenced by certain in
terests that are, more interested in the
special privilege seeker than in the peo-
pie. In many instances this is true,
brought about, no doubt, by the finan-
cial condition of particular paper.
whose owners are unable to secure sufti-
cient revenue from their paper 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.
The manag ement OF the paper. with
this policy in mind, sends out the news
gatherer on a mission with instructions.
The facts gathered are distorted and
the articles colored in accordance with
and in accordance with the
prejudices of the individual news gath
erer, thereby getting away from the pur-
pose Of disseminating fair and unbiased
news The editorial writer likewise COL
ors his editorial to suit the interests
of the paper and his employer.
Little Regard for Fairness"
The people in a small community
quickly discover the gossip monger and
the talebearer, and such person Is dis
credited and has no standing in the
The people have discovered
IN New York, that practi-
cally all Of the large newspapers are
controlled by the special privilege seek
ing interests and have as little regard
and little respect for the truthfulness
and fairness Of such papers as they have
for the gossip monger and trouble maker
In a small community.
This shaken confidence and the belle:
that the press is controlled to great
extent by those who are profiteering in
the necessities Of life are causing great
and most serious unrest among 'he
people.
'sThe policy of every paper in the coun-
.ry should be to present the facts as they
and them and not to attempt to bias and
prejudice the minds of the people with
untruthful and unfair editorials and
news articles.
"In order for the press to regain the
confidence of the people they must first
II all adopt a policy which will make
heir paper honest. fearless and indie
pendent in the presentation OF news. l
sincerely hope that the great men who
ire connected with the papers of the
United States will appreciate the neces-
,ity Of regaining the confidence OF the
,eople, and use their influence against
he yrofiteering interests that are con-
rolling the necessities OF life and ex-
plotting the people.
Permit me to make this suggestion
It this time: Would 1t not be wise for
! return to the days when our writer's
md moulders of public thought on mat
ers affecting public questions appearing
n the daily papers signed the same
With their names?"
The National Association OF City Edi-
ors is organising by States. The pur-
,ose OF the present convention is to or
yanize the members In this State as the
New York City Editors Association. As
s was so very warm yesterday the dele
gates dispensed with their afternoon
excepting a trip around the
larbor as the guests Of Murray HUI
BERT, Commissioner of Docks and Fer
les, Last night they had dinner at the
Majestic.
Judge Raymond b, Tiffany told Of the
york of the American Defence Society.