Arizona republican., 1918-04-27

sational Zimmerman note, with its re-
 port of diplomatic intrigue in Mexico,
 was universally accepted as genuine | because the Associated Press said it | was.
 The bombardment of Paris at long
 range was ridiculed by other press as- sociations and by ordnance experts. but
 the Paris bureau of the Associated | Press. which for two days alone re- ported this startling development of | the war to American readers, con- vinced the skeptical quite as thorough l ly as did the official confirmation of it's
 report.
 When the governments action in taking over the Dutch ships in Amer ican harbors was reported in Europe, several chancellors inquired in Europe
 na capitals whether the Associated
 Press announced this fact. This repu- tation for telling the truth on the part of the Associated Press is recognized now quite as generally throughout dip lomatic and journalistic circles abroad as it is in the United States, and it is an asset of membership in this organ ization that is of the utmost value
 A. p. Men in Service
 During the last year the war has naturally drawn heavily upon our, staff It has been the policy of the manage ment not only not to seek exemption from government service on behalf of it's employees but to encourage such service. Men who year ago were serving this organization are now by hundreds in the military and naval or other service of the United States. Our operators in particular have been enabled to render valuable service for which their training has peculiarly fit ted them Within year we have thus lost more than one-fourth of our staff, and many more men are soon to leave us.
 In this period of war, as the activi- ties and responsibility of our service have steadily increased it is a source of great pride to know that those upon whom the burden has fallen have met their obligations with a measure of faithfulness and intelligence for which 1 the management is deeply grateful 1 By direction of the board of directors and as partial recognition of the ef- | ficiency of the staff, the life of each | employe in the United States, while in | the service has been insured for the | benefit of his heirs or dependents in | the sum of 5000. Because of the l greater risk involved established com i panleS will not accept insurance upon | the lives of our men in foreign service | but the board has itself assumed lia ! bility on their behalf
 While the growth in membership was l usually large during the last year, the | members should not mistake the -policy as to growth Unlike the privately | owned and profit making news agen- | cies. we do not traffic in news. We | welcome only such additions to mem bership as strengthen the news gath ering facilities of this body.
 Over 1000 in Association
 At the close of the year there were | 636 evening newspapers, 391 morning newspapers. or a total of I0SS receiv- ing the service. These newspapers. from the smallest, which receives a 5O0word daily telegraphic service, to the largest which receives upwards of 5O,O0O words daily, shows net increase in membership in the year 1917 of 139, of which 96 are evening" 34 morning and 9 Sunday newspapers.
 In 1917 there was a great expansion in the Morse leased wire service, more than 1000 additional miles of wire be- ing added, making the leased wire sys tenn of the organization over 53,OO0 iiliieS III leHStH, anu more than twice l the mileage of all other press associa- tions combined. Receiving the report on these leased wires, which would stretch more than twice around the world. are 30S evening newspapers, 2e9 morning newspapers and 48 Sunday l. newspapers. While there was a rapid extension of the leased wire service, the increase in the number of papers receiving pony services smaller than the Morse leased wire, was still greater. showing a growth of 87 over that of the preceding year.
 Service Never FaIters
 With the extension of the Morse service it was necessary to employ ad- ditional Morse operators. The number of operators employed at present is 660. representing an increase of 59 over the number employed for the pre- ceding year. The body of operators who copy the report in every state in the union, with a single exception. is greater than the combined operating forces of all the other press associa- Iions of the world. Regardless of the loss of trained men, and the fact that of it's personnel has been m service less than one year, the de- livery of the report has not been in- corrupted. and no member wishing a eased wire has been without service owing to the shortage of operators.