Great Falls tribune., 1921-04-27

SAAAu0A~O ~ kAC 4OAJy AVSlVCS GAdt
inspired it, and Of the generous,
considerate, helpful attitude.
0nerous Problem to SoIys
The world and our own nation
have yet manifold onerous prob.
lens to solve and burdens to bear.
| know that among those entrust-
ed with national administration
there is the ardent wish to serve
with whatever Of ability we may
possess, and without any reserva-
tion in behalf Of partisanship or !
personal interest. Nothing would
give me more assurance at this
time than to know that the ad-
ministration would be able to de-
serve and retain the lavish mea-
sure of good will and confidence
that has been accorded to it thus
far. Mutual tolerance and modera-
ton will, / am sure, be amply re
paid in accomplishment for the
good of the country we all love
and wish to prosper.
Most sincerely yours.
WARREN G. HARDING.
Davis Speech
After the presidents letter was reat
Mr. Noyes introduced Mr.. Davis.
Mr.. Davis spoke in part as follows
| am flattered by this invitation
to address you. Notwithstanding
the fact that / have received from
the generous hand Of your general
manager your annual reports for
the years from 1900 to 1920, in
elusive, two thick volumes alleged
to contain all the law you have
enacted for yourselves or persu
AIDED others to enact for you, and
sundry articles from the pen Of
the general manager himsef-all
Of which, for the purposes Of the
present argument | ask you to
assume that ! have read with
minute and exhaustive care-not-
withstanding all this, there is still
much concerning your activities
which it will be my pleasure to
study and to learn. And yet one
would confess himself ignorant
past all hope if he had not some
acquaintance with The Associated
Press and its work, for verify
there is no speech nor language
where your voice is not heard;
your line has gone through all the
earth and your words to the ends
Of the world. Day unto day you
utter speech, and night unto night
you show knowledge. Yours are
the eyes Of Argus, and into your
ears are breathed the secrets Of
princes and peasants, Of prophets,
priests and kings. Carrying the
classical figure a step further.
yours is the voice Of Stentor at
whose sound the earth itself
trembles.
Powerful Public Opinion
Manifestly, such an endowment
provides opportunities not enjoyed
by ordinary mortals. and equal and
correlative responsibility for their
proper use. It is the rubbing Of
your lamps that calls out Of the
void that great and powerful genie
whom we call Public Opinion
lord and master in this democratic
age Of the lives and destinies Of
men. Whether he comes as d
benevolent despot or as blind
and destructive tyrant depends
primarily had almost said n
tirely - upon the Press The
newspaper is the great educative
institution before which even col
leges and universities must bow.
and the immeasurable company Of
your readers are the voters whose
education is imperative if self
government is to survive. Upon
the information you give us We
must order our lives. Nor does it
detract from the devoted labors Of
editorial sanctnms to say that
their considered comment. great
as its influence may be. is second
ary in its influence upon public
opinion to the news column. The
decisive factor is the kind. quality.
and form Of the facts which are
fed into the public mind in the
guise Of news. To be the pnr-
veyor Of so vital a commodity is
very great and very solemn
responsibility. I congratulate the
Associated Press. because. by the
general verdict Of mankind it has
performed without partisanship.
and in an earnest pursuit of the
truth where it might be found.
On this rests the general respect
and public confidence which the
Associated Press enjoys.
"The World Must Know"
I know Of no reason why I
should longer convert a semi
social meeting into an occasion
for airing my individual views.
let me thank you again for this
opportunity to address you and
close with words descriptive Of
your function which deserve to be
written in letters Of fire:
No great and lasting wrong
says the gentleman I am quoting.
can be inflicted upon the sons OF
men anywhere so long as this
fierce blaze Of publicity is beating
upon the scene. For in the end,
the world must know. and When
the world knows, Justice must be
done. The most absolute and ir-
responsible authority must finally
yield to the demands Of a great
public sentiment
This language from the pen Of
Melville e. Stone is at once the
creed, the shibboleth and the jus
Of the Associated Press.
Long may it pursue its lofty
errand