Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-23

q
other nations. At the same time we
DO hold their respect. Our position
10 SUCH that We are trusted and our
business institutions and government
considered 70 be worthy of confidence.
u there Is disappointment In some
directions that We do not enter al
iiances with them, il Is more than
over balanced by the knowledge that
there Is no danger that we shall en-
ter alliances against them. It must
Dc known to every people that we
are seeking no acquisition OF terri
tory, ana maintaining no military es-
.aphsnment with unfriendly and hos
tue intent. Like our political insti-
tutlons All OK this Is q powerful ex-
ample throughout the world. Very
many Of the nations have been the
recipients Of our favor, ana nave
had the advantage Of our help in
some time Of extremity. We have
no traditional enemies. We have
come to a position Of great power
and great responsibility.
Our First Duty
Our first duty 10 to ourselves.
American standards must be main
tanned. American institutions must
be preserved. The freedom of the
people politically, economically, in
tellectually. morally and spiritually.
must continue to be advanced. This
is not a matter Of q day or a year.
1t may be OF generations. It may be
OF an era. 1t is for US here and now
to keep in the right direction, to re-
main constant to the right ideals. We
need faith that is broad enough
to let the people make their own
mistakes. Let them come unto know
ledge and understanding by their
Cwn experience. Little progress can
ce made by merely attempting TO re-
press what is evil, our great hope
lies in developing what is good. One
newspaper is better than many
criminal laws. One schoolmaster is
better than legion of bailiffs. One
clergyman is better than an army
with banners. These are our guar
antees Of internal peace and progress.
On what nations are at home de-
ponds what they win be abroad.
domestic affairs. 1t will rule in their
foreign affairs. The world knows
that we do not seek to rule by force
Of arms, our strength is in our moral
power. We increase the desire for
peace everywhere by being peaceful.
we maintain a military force for our
defense. but our offensive lies in the
Justice OF our cause. We are against
war because it is destructive. We are
for peace because 1t is constructive.
We seek concord with all nations
through mutual understanding. We
believe in treaties and covenants and
international law as a permanent
record for reliable determination of
action. All these are evidences OF a
right intention. But something more
than these is required, to maintain
the peace of the world. In its final
determination. 1t must come from the
heart of the people. Unless 1t abide
there, we can not build for it any
artificial lodging place. II the will
of the world be evil, there Is no ar
tifice by which We can protect the
nations from evil results. Govern
ments can do much for the better
mert OF the world. They are the in
struments through which humanity
acts in international relations. Be
cause they can not do everything,
they must not neglect 70 do what
they can. But tho final establish
ment of peace. the complete main
tenance of good will toward men, will
be found only in the righteousness
Of the people of the earth. Wars VIII
cease when they will that they shall
will that 1t shall reign.
Responding for The Associated
Press, President Noyes of the asso-
ella ton said:
II hope 1 may be pardoned IL I take
advantage of this occasion to again
explain exactly what The Associated
Press is.
"The reason for the existence Of
The Associated Press Is found in the
determination of the newspapers
composing it's membership - some
1900 in ALTO have q world news
service OF their own. their servant
and not their master; this news SER
vice to be bipartisan in the
broadcast sense. one that has no bias
whatever, whether political religious
or economic: that should be as &C
curate as possible and that should
be comprehensive within the limits
of decency; news service whose
sole mission Is to supply its mem
bers, and its members alone, with
ncws--not Views; a news service that
should not constitute itself judge or
jury, prosecuting attorney or attor-
ney for the defense, but content 1T
self with acting as an impartial re-
porter.
"This determination is based on
the belief Of it's members that the
prosperity OF their newspapers and
indeed the safety of the Republic it
self is founded on an undef1led news
service, for nothing will more surely
destroy any worthwhile newspaper
whether large or small-than to
forfeit the confidence and respect Of
its readers by giving a biased or un-
truthful report Of world happenings.
ut was not believed by the found
ers of The Associated Press. and the
course of time has brought no change
in this belief, that the desired end
could be- obtained through a private
ly owned, profit making agency, con-
tr0lled by a small group OF owners.
ITO secure the sort Of service re-
Quired, a cooperative, non-profit
making association was formed.
the membership being confined to
the representatives of the associated
newspapers.
THE newspaper members make
two ontributions-one that of their
local news. another money assess
ment covering their equitable proper
distributing the news OF the world,
including the local news contributed
by each member.
1.-THE affairs Of the organization
are supervised by an elected board
of directors, composed OF Is news
paper men, selected from all Sec
tons of the country. trustees for tine
common interests OF the membership.
These directors are obligated to see
that the report measures UP, within
human limitations, to the ideals
have outlined.
THE directors, however. take no
part in the daily direction of the re-
port, acting rather as body of CEN
sors, q duty they share with every
member and indeed with every news
ia mar ran dor