The New York herald., 1921-12-19
by EDWIN c. HILL.

ny EDWIN Z. HILL.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YorK HrRALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Dec. 49,
Interesting tendencies OF the times are
revealed by the conference. Public APP
probation OF the integrity. concision and
clarity of modern newspaper writing was
never so manifest Educators. formerly
indifferent or positively hostile to
newspaper English" now take daily
newspapers to their classrooms, using
them as models OF clear. forcef,l Eng
lish style. superintendent BaiIout of the
Washington schools says press reports
OF the conference have been remark
able" These reports are employed as
texts In composition, especially valuable
in killing off "fine writing" instincts on
the part of pupils.
Such educators say to this writer that
there has been a marked Improvement
in newspaper writing in the last ten
years Whether this is true or whether
college and school teachers have merely
opened their eyes to style and method
of writing that is closer 10 the living
language OF the people than any other
style and method does NOT matter.
Nothing is so dead as yesterdays news
paper. but on the morning of its birth
nothing is so much alive.
Lord Riddeli, celebrated English pub
Usher and competent observer. says the
tendency In newspaper writing is more
and more toward crispness and succinct-
ness. This is true both In England and
the United States His experience as the
publisher of widely read newspaper Is
that In this busy world few persons have
time or patience TO read wordy. copious
reports. They crave varied diet, a
little about this, a little about that. Nat
urally pleased with his own newspaper,
Lord Riddeil says the tendency ia more
and more toward brief reporting, sup
plemented by news photographs.
Among other little things, the confer.
ence emphasizes that to man, the pygmy,
the earth is yet big place. Whatever
happens In Washington this afternoon
cannot be known in Melbourne, Aus
tralia. until tomorrow morning. The
people of tho great island continent are
many hours behind the news OF these
historical decisions. Yet the corre-
spondents for distant papers have ac-
complished marvels. handicapped as they
are by very limited Pacific cabling ia
cilities.
Although the peaceinakerS seem wen
on toward competing their set tasks,
the number of correspondents increases.
IL anything. Especially is this true
with those busy little brown bees, the
Japanese. In two weeks the corps OF
Japanese news writer's in Washington
has about doubled. This should indi-
cate the intensity OF interest In far
Nippon. These very alert. very in
dustrious reporters are closely In touch
with their official delegation and play
part in the conference proceedings
not usual to Western newspaper men.
They frankly served the delegates in
sounding American opinion toward
Japan and her projects. useful because
OF their knowledge Of English and OF
American ways. AS n rule these Japa-
nese journalists arc advocates OF limited
armament and of a better. understand
ing between the two great Pacific
Powers
The ponderous figure OF the Chief
Justice of the United States Supreme
Court looms now and then upon the
fringe OF conference events. The Taft
fs a