Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-12

The presidents message was sent in
the form of letter to Wallace X.
harrington, governor of Hawaii, and
Bulletin. 1t was dated September s
and, in part, follows:
Press Is Powerful.
II hope the fact that | chance to
have been most of my life a news
paper man. will not have distorted my
Judgment SO far as to cause me to
overrate the Importance Of journalism
in the present day world. Not only
have the world war and the events
transpir.ng ~sifYre the armistice i'm
value Of the public press, but they
have demonstrated the possible danger
which resides in a press too freely
employed for mere propaganda. In
the overwhelming emergency Of the
war. propaganda became well nigh
universal habit; might almost say
code among journalists. 1t was. OF
course, intended to be the propa-
ganda of patriotism. of devout ma
tionalism, of well-intended aspiration
for the salvation of the best in human
society; but it was not always en-
tirely fair, judicial or discreet. On
the whole, it served splendid pur-
pose in the circumstances of war
time; but we newspaper men could
indulge in no more grievous error
than to assume that propaganda is
the first or even leading aim OF
a properly conducted press.
Il cannot but feel that the primary
purpose of the press, as social in
stitution. is the opening Of mems minds,
rather than the closing of them. Prop
aganda aims primarily at shutting up
the mind against other conclusions
than those which the propagandists de
sign to implant. Education, on the
contrary, aims to open the mind, to
prepare it, to make it receptive, and
to urge it to formulate its own con
clusions. !
Fair Treatment to All.
@"In this work of education no sin !
gle force or influence Of which we now
know can be expected to exert so |
great a potency as the press You are !
meeting in a day when the world is |
looking forward to the gathering Of |
the nations to consider limitation of |
armament and the maintenance of |
world peace. If your deliberations
shall inspire larger, a better. a more ;
humane view of the elements which en-
ter into the problem of peace and at
least measurable disarmament; if you
can encourage the ideal Of world /.
permanently at peace, then you will
have given vast impetus to the ef
forts of statesmen who are presently |
to consider these problems in Wash
lngton.
I'VE have heard much in recent years
about the problem Of the Pacific. what
ever that may be. l take it to be
merely phase of the universal y,rob-
lem of the race Of men and nations
wherever they are. 1t is hard to i'm
agine Qualifications in this day and age,
especially in view of the worlds late
experiences. for armed conflict
among civilized peoples anywhere and
especially among peoples SO widely sep
afated as those on the opposite borders
ent races. social organizations. politi-
cal systems and modes of thought. Be-
tween them and their widely varying
systems, there may well be an amicablc
to determine which COM
possesses the better and more
effective ideas for human advancement.
But. that there should be conflict; that
warfare and controversy should inter-
fere with this worth while demonstra-
ton of the value of different modes Of
progress. is almost unthinkable. The
Pacific ought to be the seat of gen
rrous, free. open minded competition
beteween the best ideals Of eastern and
western life: between the aspiration
and endeay0rs Of the oldest and new
est forms Of human society. II
'sYOu are meeting at the crossroads .
IF the Pacific, amid all the glamour and
romance and glory which have always
surrounded the very name of the
South Seq. You have an opportunity
10 do work for humanity, and / be-
ieve you have met at a peculiarly aus
piciOus time
TEACHERS ON STRIKE.
Berne. Switzerland, Oct 11--The