The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1921-11-14
KATO
SPEAKS HOPEFULLY

Washington, Nov. 13.-Secretary
hughes pronouncemcnt at the inaug-
ural session Of the armament confer
ence "has clarified the situation, Ad-
miral Baron kato declared at recep-
ton given tonight at the Shoreham by
Baron Shidehara, the Japanese am
bassador. The reception was ar
ranged to present journalists, who are
reporting proceedings of the confer
cnce, to the japanese plenipotenti-
aries and had been postponed until to-
night on account of the assassination
of Premier Hara. A number of dis
tinguishcd Americans, not of the Jour
nalistic profession, also were present.
Baron Shidahara introduced Admiral
Kato and Prince Tokugawa and then
called upon Frederick Roy Martin,
general manager or The Associated
Press, to respond as "the representa-
tives of American journalism"
Admiral kato pointed out that up to
the present japan has had fears which
have caused her to continue the naval
construction but, with fears on both
sides obliterated, he was confident
that an agreement so far as Japan
and the United States were concerned
could not fail to come.
Prince Tokugawa declared that if
any feared the failure of the confer
ence before leaving Japan, that fear
had been dispelled since arriving in
the United States.
Mr.. Martin, responding, declared
The press was "a powerful factor"
IN the conference since its function
vas ''to tell the waiting world what
YOU do here, who leads, who falters,
md the results" The regulars" of
the fourth estate, Mr.. Martin said
who "measurer their service not by
the column but by the years." pledged
the conference their best efforts so
that they might profit by the dclib-
crations here.
"Momcntous as are the declarations
you have made,' Mr.. Martin said, "the
chief function Of the press here, as
throughout the conference, is to re-
port them not to criticise, analyzc, nor
interpret them.
"Ours is a powerful factor in this
conference-to tell the waiting world
rs accurately, comprehensively and
mp9rtially as possible what you do
here. who leads, who falters, and the
results. Whether the optimists who
preach that hope will point the right
way even if history fails or whether
the pessimist are right who say that
us, the part for the press is clearl!
defined, irrespective of the outcome.
"It must not stress poss ble| dis
agreements, it must not question
mems motives incquitably, it linus
}ot, for example, term armamcnA'pr pre-
paredness' in the case of one cotNtry
nd 'miltarism' in the case of anotffec.
but as best it can, tell the truth, tho
whole truth and nothing but the truth.
at may not be out of place to re-
all that in this democracy where
most of our political leaders, what
ever their present position, remain
!ot long in public office; there is a
"ontinuing fourth estate of men who
take their profession seriously. From
ime to time historians, essayists and
philosophers may volunteer in our
profession but it is the regulars-to
adopt a military telm--who measurS
heir service not by the column but
by the years, who will inform nine
tenths Of all the world what is done
here. They pledge you their best ef
fort to rise to the highest possible
level of honesty and fairness that the
world may profit by your dclibera-
tions. Theirs not to reason why
theirs but to strive with full knowl-
edge of human liberty to let the world
know exactly what goes on here at
this critical hour"