Evening star., 1923-04-29
PRESIDENT DENIES
BANKERS |MPELLED
WORLD COURT VIEW
Only Exchange of Opinions
at His Own Request,
He Tells Editors.
LAUDS CODE OF ETHICS
IN REMINISCENT MOOD
Says Profession Can Do Much
Toward Furthering Pub
lie Confidence.

President Harding last night, in
addressing the annual banquet of
the American Society of Newspaper
Editors at the Willard Hotel. de-
MED with much emphasis that his
advocacy of this nations adherence
to the International Court OF Justice
has not been at the instance OF in
Icrnational bankers.
1T has been said recently that the
executive has been imposed upon by
tho influence and the cunning and
design of International bankers" the
President said. but there isn't a word
Of truth in it. and I want to tell this
to you because it will enlarge your
vision and enable you to comment
sometimes little more satisfac-
torily.'
Responded When Summoned.
In amplifyng this reference to the
International bankers. the President
went on to say. II have been Presi-
dent something more than two years
I have yet to be asked for an audience
or TO he requested for an Interview
by a single international banker in
America or elsewhere. And the only
exchanges of opinions between inter
national bankers and the President OF
the United States have been at the re-
quest of the President. and 1t is fair
TO say that in the instances when they
have been summoned they have said
with just the same patriotic in
terest and devotion that you would
say. Mr.. President, we are at your
service in any way that you wish to
command it.
Government Not Astray.
In making this known, the Prest-
dent explained that he thought it was
only fair to tell the publishers and
editors Of the true situation, that
they may with seeming sincerity
and great emphasis say that the gov
ernment is not being led astray at
the behest or design Of the bankers;
there isn't grain Of truth to justify
the statement"
The President expressed the firm
belief that the editors of the news
way toward creating a greater feel
ing of confidence in tho security or
the republic and in establishing a
wider knowledge in the Constitution.
World Situation.
In this connection the executive.
with much seriousness, referred to
what he called the serious situation
throughout the world, but declared
that the American republic was
standing firm and, as he termed it,
"anchored safely and WE'LL
We cannot revise civilization. but
we can make It better. and in this re-
spect the newspapers can be of SUBJ
ktantial assistance" he said.
In making this appeal to the edi-
tors. the President recalled that the
constitution of the United States
afforded the freedom of expression
and stated that in his opinion the
time has come when the press of
America can repay this debt. He said
it was essential that the newspapers
do everything within their power to
aid in making this government more
stable, that it may stand out rs q
good example to the older nations
of the world.
we used to have in the state Of
Ohio two very famous papers in one
| of the larger cities of the state"
said the President. "One was very
highly reputed for being alert about
the news. 1t was rather sensational
in character, and the other was not
bility for news, and its ability to
omment thereon, and whenever there
appeared in the one paper an ex-
+raordinary item of news that the
community far from the city would
pc shocked about, or feel like ac-
epting with a grain of salt, there
mas this comment invariably, Well
Eait until we see the Banner and
hen we will know
That is the highest tribute that
an be uttered about a, publicati
anywhere in the world. I would
ather have the community hold my
publication to be dependable
ource of information than to pro-
i'm it the most enterprising publ
etion that was ever gotten up. The
hief objection to inaccuracy is that
leads to false Impressions, unin-
entional, no doubt, and it gives a
Pcnt to the popular mind sometimes
hat ought never to be given. There
s not reason in the world why
he essential news Of public life
hould not be as accurate as though
was a matter Of written official
eoord.
Il don't know how many news
hapermen are going to be President,
,ut il ever any of you succeed me
ou are going to have one thing that
vill try your patience beyond all
ort of expression, and that is to
ave a man in some branch Of the
bublic service call upon you and
maybe talk to you about a bit of pa
ronage; maybe about sonnet ething that
ught to be done in his locality and
hen appear in the evening papers Of
hat day or the morning papers of
ne next day as having told you in
umerable things about how to run
ne government and how you must do
you are going TO get on. when
CONTINUED on Page I. Column g.