New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
Golden Shears
Gift to Hughes
From Writers
Washington Correspondents
Show Appreciation of Aid
Given by Secretary of State
in Getting Accurate News
Inspired by the President
Difficult Relationship of
Press and Public Officials
Discussed at Presentation

tarv OF State Charles Z. Hughes to-
dsv, in accepting a pair of gold shears
presented by the Washington newspa-
ner correspondents as evidence of their
gratitude for his hearty cooperation
in the first year of his administrations
spoke Of the duty public officer owes
TO the press.
Nothing is more difficult" Mr..
Hughes said, than to maintain the
proper contact on the part of public
officer, particularly in the great de-
partments, with public opinion. Of
course, II is essential that nothing
should be done which would impair ad-
ministrative work by improper or
premature disclosures.
"You, as citizens. understand the i'm
portance of that, especially in conuec-
ton with the work of the State De
partment. On the other hand, it is
just as important that suspicion should
not be allowed to get under way be-
cause Of an undue reticence and lack
~ proper application of the time and
opportunity for a disclosure to which
the public is entitled.
"A public officer las always got to
remind himself. and he ought to say
every morning as he approaches his
task: I am a servant, and it is my
business to see what | can do for the
American people. am not boss, and
my LITTLE thority or great authority
that ] happen to have for a day is not
personal perquisitc
Difficulties at the Conference
80, Of course. it is obvious to you.
with your intimate contact with the
department. that we have to maintain
this balance. 1t isn't always easy to
decide what should be done, and there
hos TO be mutual confidence between
those who represent in their contact
"i.h the department the public opinion
O. the country and the officer who is
ling to administer the department, or
else there will be failure on both
sides. There will be failure of the
pubic TO understand and a failure of
'he public officer properly to discharge
his duty. That means that when tell
you that there ere certain things
cent say you Will believe that at least
mat | am not trying to conceal some
thing which you ought to know. And
~ means that when ] say a thing to
you 20 guide you. so far as | can, in
Tour Interpretation Of the work Of the
department, you know that | am not
tying, in the language Of the street, to
put something over and get something
so the public which will be in some per-
soHei interest OF mine rather than MAX
in.g raghtforward statement Of
Nhat ws are actually doing"
Ny Hughes referred to the difficult
position nc held during the Conference
CT the Limitation of Armament.
have been very happy to think" he
said, that you have felt that was
trying to deal with this work in n
manner compatible with our theories
OF democratic institutions and TO MIKE
our work as Ineligible to the public
as thoroughly understood by the people.
As tae circumstances of the case would
permit Of course, that was especially
diThcult during the conference. was
N the position Of chairman of the COR
.efence- ] was responsible delegate.
Anything said was Authoritative nnt
gossip or speculation. I knew the
facts, and everybody knew that l knew:
tnnt what | said was not mere sun.
position. wy
I had to be especially guarded that
should say nothing which would give
tree course to inadvisablc reports, or
on the other hand would be in anv
way breach OF that honorable conf
dence without which my usefulness in
the department would soon be at an
end" on
The Secretary said he did not play
snvorites in reading newspapers. ~
read all sorts and all opinions. and.
savlng arrived at fair degree of ma
turity. to say the least, | can read
things that don't even admire with
out Losing my digestion or my sleep."
ne said. ~ have a good laugh everv
once In while when | read about the
enorts Of the new Hughes, and | go
AL over again with some that have
had che pleasure of meeting recently
tor the first time what went over in
albany years and years ago, and it is
great privilege to be pleasantly re-
discovered"
Gift Of Junior Diplomats"
he presentation was made by NJ. F.
rlghe, one of the veteran correspon-
cents on the diplomatic run, who said:
II have been awarded the happy
privilege and pleasure of presenting to
you gift on behalf of the junior class
'~i'ioNs' Otiitt wise SHOWN as Lne
Independent Order of Un-Godly Intel
lectuals.
This gift was suggested, | believe,
oy some happy phases of President
larding the other day at the White
House. when he spoke of the -revolv-
lng fates.' and on this inspiration the
y;st was put in practical. emblematic
form.
The most interesting member of the
classical Fates' family was the su-
premely intelligent lady who carried
the shears which dealt justly and with
peculiar intelligence with the fate, not
only Of individuals. but of nations Be
ing old, classic shears, they were, Of
course, made appropriately for and in
the Golden Age
"The sense of all this, Mr.. Secretary.
% that the correspondents attached to
this high Office decided to present you
with q pair Of golden shears in token
Of their gratitude for your kindly as
sistsncc to them in their work since
you became Secretary of State.
"The inscription on the present
speaks o. its motive as gratitude but
We now amend it by adding the words
personal esteem, regard and affec-
ton
1--WE all hope you will live for MANY
years and will make the use OF this
golden gift that Alexander made of his
sword in cutting the Gordian knots of
diplomacy