The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-17
A.P. TRUSTEE
NOT A TRUST.
ASSERTS stone
Association Counsel Lik-
ems Function To That
Of Mine Owners

CINCINNATI, o., May 16.-That
the Associated Press is not trust but
a trustee, recognizing the responsibility
of telling the truth respecting the
worlds happenings, was the declara-
ton of Melville q. Stone, former gen.
eral manager and now counsellor of
of the National Coal association in an
nual convention here.
Mr.. Stone said the Associated Press
is a cooperative news gathering or
ganizatioH, having no stock, no capital,
making nd profits, selling nothing, but
supported by the newspapers CONSTITUTE
ing its membership and having no
purpose other than to secure and fur
nish truthful, impartial facts to its
members.
'The Associated Press. as you in
casual way know it was born of an
the responsibility of. a very great
trusteeship," said Mr.. Stone.
1.-THE association was organized by a
brave, conscientious, patriotic body of
journalists, to assume this responsible
ity to meet this obligation. Their pur-
pose was to tell the truth respecting
the worlds happenings not
the whole truth, yet nothing but the
truth. They pledged hundreds of thou
sands of dallars to redeem this OBJ
legation.
All Sorts Represented
'sThe newspaper members it serves
as joint reporter, include papers
Of every sort of ffiliation-republican
democratic, free trade and protection,
capitalistic and trades unionists, con-
sentative and radical-and this car
ries with it trusteeship. Newspapers
have but one common demand upon
the organization-that it shall furnish
news and not yiews--that as nearly as
possible, considering the frailties of
human nature, its service shall be free
from bias or opinion. The only tie that
binds any member newspaper to it is
the confidence of the newspaper mem
Der in its integrity and 'impartiality.
"You also have a larger responsible
ity for the welfare of this nation than
most of the citizens-much larger than
the merchant, the manufacturer or the
professional man. There is a curious
analogy between the Associated Press
and the coal industry. Both have and
do enjoy special privileges at the hands
of the American people.
Defies Laws
There is something very interesting
to a news man about the bituminous
coal industry. ItGseems to be the one
occupation which successfully defies
the recognized economic laws. I do not
pretend to speak by the, card, but l
am told by those who should know,
that the greater the output the greater
the discomfort of the employed miners
and the coal consumers alike. In every
other field of activity the greater the
competition the happier the employee
and the cheaper the output. With your
enterprise the very reverse seems to be
true.
"You have some hard problems be-
fore you. The question Of living, a
fair wage; and of a fair price for the
consumer. You cannot solve these prob
lens alone. There must be CO.
operation from number of sources.
And it is upon this question
out it we must fail. One of our nation
al weaknesses-perhaps the greatest
is the unwillingness Of our good citi-
zens to cooperate, to carry on with
their civilic duties. They are drunk
with the opportunity for money making
in this 'god-giyen heritage of material
wealth.
Must Recognize TrusteeshIp
What sort of cooperation do
mean as remedy for the disease? /
am opposed to governmental ownership
or even of governmental control save
as a last and obviously necessary step.
But mine owners must recognize that
they in their enterprises are. charged
with trusteeship which they cannot