Evening star., 1923-04-29

is a profitable and commercially i'm
portant enterprise. II is not the old
type Of Journalism. 1t is not the
old questions OF political parties or
which Mr. Davis has becomingly dig
nified it, a great and honorable pro-
fession, combined with highly sue
cessful business.
"I can remember wonder if any
others of you can-when a load of
stove wood was a very welcome ar
rival at our office. And I have dis
tinct recollections of crooks of apple
butter and bags of specially selected
potatoes, and plenty of pumpkins and
apples and even more-oh. you young
fellows haven't a dream about IT at
all. ! can remember when wedding
cake came to the oft1ce neatly packed
in a shoe box, so that we could get
a taste of every particular cake that
was cut on a very particular occasion.
And we had that contact with the COM
munity that does not exist nowadays.
Strict Code OF Ethics.
Now in the present regime in the
publication of newspapers there is
indeed a call for strict code OF
ethics in the activities in the most
important profession in the world.
I am not to discuss that code in de-
tail, but there are two or three phases
of it that i want to take the oppor-
tunity in a very rambling talk to
emphasize. .---.
bility. We are all agreed about that.
And I have no need to make reference
to the freedom of the press. And
think I may reasonably pass-no; !
will stop for a moment at number
three, freedom from obligation, ex-
cept that of fidelity of public interest
is vital:
eff my observation as President of
the United States has taught me any
one thing. IT is that there are too
many men in the newspaper world
who believe one thing and preach an
other. And that is not honest and
that is not a contribution to becoming
journalism.
How shall I say it? I sat in the
executive Offices and listened to an
outstanding editor-publisher of the
United States, who took my time for
two hours urging upon me the neces
sity of reduction in federal taxes,
notably excess profits and income and
surta1es, particularly pressing it with
every word of argument that he could
form. and his newspapers at that very
hour were clamoring that the minionS
of capital were proposing to reduce
the taxes on the wealth of this coun-
try.
II would not give rap for the
conscience Of a man like that Think
of the spectacle Of a great publisher
appealing to the President, on the
one hand, for the very thing against
which his papers were crying out. l
will give you another, probably not
reflex of selfish interests. 1t is a
thing that suggests fairness of COM
ment. If I made definition of jour-
nalism I should pronounce journalism
the profession that combines the pub
Using Of news with an honest inter
probation of it and becoming COM
ments thereon. 1t is easy to be re
spectacle purveyor of news. That Is
not journalism. There are fine ethics
in purveying news, but journalism
covers the whole field. and an honest
Journalist is never unfair in stating
the facts upon which 1t bases its COM
ment"
Mr.. Davis Speaks.
John w. Davis former ambassador
to Great Britain, made 1t very evi-
dent that he is opposed to the cur
tailment of the powers OF the United
States Supreme Court in the matter
Of holding unconstitutional acts OF
Congress- as has been recently agi-
tated.
Mr.. Davis devtoed his remarks to a
strong defense OF the principles of
the Constitution and to his apprecia-
ton Of the part newspapers can
play in guarding the sacredness and
safety of that instrument. He said
that because Of the freedom given
the press of America, the obligation
Of the latter is great and should be
at all times most righteously OBJ
New Omcers Chosen.
During the evening announcement
was made Of the election of the fol-
lowing to serve as officers Of the
society for the ensuing year: Presi-
dent. Casper S. Yost, st. Louis Globe
Democrat: first vice president.
George r. Miller, Detroit News;
second vice president. Edgar
B. Piper, Portland Oregonian;
Secretary Eric c. Hopwood. Cleve-
land Plain Dealer. Treasurer r. S:
Beck, Chicago Tribune; board of
directors; David Z. Smiley. Philadel-
phia Public Ledger; Willis ]. Abbott,
Christian Science Monitor; Joseph
Pulitzer, st. Louis Dispatch; 7. j.
Dillon, Minneapolis Tribune; Ralph
E. Stout. Kansas City Star, and Frank
Cobb, New York World.