Evening star., 1925-06-01
SUPPORT FOR LAW
IS URGED ON PRESS
Tendency of Papers to Scott
at Prohibition 0epIored
Before Editors.
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va, June An ap-
peal to the publishers of America to
lend their strength and space to the
enforcement of law and order. es-
pecially in the direction of enforcing
the prohibition laws, was made by
George w. Marble. editor of the Fort
Scott, kans.. Tribune Monitor. and
president of the National Editorial As
Soclation, in his annual address today
before the fortieth annual convention
OF the association here.
There can, of course. be no just
criticism of sincere efforts by fair
means to repeal an objectionable law, y
the president said. but to tolerate the
assumption that because u law is un-
popular in d community il may he dis
regarded there is to ConCede the i'm
potency of the essential principle Of
our whole system of government.
Depl0res Attitude of Press.
Upon the suggestion of two Of my
predecessors i'm this Office, this asSo-
citation has gone on record as depre
eating the widespread tendency on the
part of metropolitan newspapers and
more or less influential citizens to join
with the laWleSS elements i'm tlouting
the prohibition amendment to the Con-
stttution. ] believe it to be the duty of
every member of this association to
throw the weight of his influence on
the side of respect for law generally
and in support of the enforcement of
the prohibition law in particular. be
cause of the tendency on the part of
so many TO cOndone the violation of
that law.
President Marbles prohibition com
mentS were made in connection with
discussion of the community service
program of the association Ordinar-
lily. he said. the chief interest of this
organization relates to the prosperity
and therefore, to the technical inter
eSts of the craft. But, more and
more, he added. his experience had
led him to the conviction that the
economic problems of a newspaper
are more intimately associated with
its spiritual liyeliness than most pub
fishers are wont to take into ac-
count.
Must Promote Righteousness.
Experience has taught me-" the
speaker pointed out, that Just as
honesty is the best policy from a sell
f1sh point of view, so distinterested
aggressive promotion of the principles
of religion and patriotism and the
Quicken1ng of civic consciousness are
pecuniarily advantageous to a news
paper, even if ii were possible to
discount the consideration of moral
responsibility naturally falling to
those engaged in a business which
adhereS to the direction of public
thought and interest"
In connection with the recent in
crease in rates of SeCOnd-class postage
the president declared the result had
been as harmful to provincial press
as upon the newspapers of more eX-
tended circulation.
Il interpret the position of this as
&A+c:at3on TO be that il asks no gratu-
titles from the Government nor any
consideration inconsistent with sound
business practices" said Mr. Marble
but that it feels that the recent in
crease was based upon a misleading
and prejudicial conclusion as to rela-
tive costs of handling the different
classes of mail"
He suggested that the association
demand a careful determination of the
handling Of legitimate newspaper mail,
and from this premise establish an
equitable rate, free from suggestion
of faVoritiSm or political penalty.
Declaring that he was more than ever
convinced that the time is here when
the National Editorial Association will
be the greatest force in all America, If
that day has not already arrived H. c.
Hotaling. executive secretary. render
ing his annual report, and traced the
growth and accomplishments of the
editorial body.
Recalling that this was the fifth an
nual report he had made to the con-
Nention, Mr.. Hotaling pointed out that
each one has Indicated growth and
progress. There has been no such
thing as stagnation." he said
I Gratifying results were portrayed
in all endeavors of the association,
with the exception of the member
ship campaign. by the speaker.
although the membership of the
association has been increased over
500 since our last meeting, the result
is anything but satisfactory" de-
clared the secretary. "Notwithstand-
ing the campaign was given every
publicity possible. very little actual
interest was aroused" The goal has
been set at around 5000, Mr.. Hota-
ling declared, and he addressed a
plea to the delegates that they en-
deavor to increase the membership
by at least 500 during the coming
year.
Mr.. Hotaling predicted the asso-
citation would accomplish something
within the next two years toward
IN elimination of Government compe-
tion in the supplying Of printed en-
NelopeS to the pubic at cost.
The time has now arrived when
those in authority are going to hear
from the publishers of America re-
garding this departure from sound
business into the fields Of socialism"
he asserted.
Attention was also called to what
was termed "the disquieting situation
with respect to our forests" Publish
erS have d direct interest in forest con
seryation, it was said. Great need
was shown for the States to follow
the example of the Government and
set aside their public lands as perma-
nent forests.
The financial resources of the aSso-
citation for the past year We're shown
10 have come largely from sustaining
membership fees. In this class of
support, il was pointed out, were
publishers from 81 States and Cana
da. Minnesota led with 81 Illinois.
with %, was second; New York third
with 16, and Wisconsin next, with 49,
The work of the Washington office
of the association was given much
praise III Mr.. Hotaling's report. 1t
was shown that not only had touch
been kept III postal and other mat
terS before the governmental ma
chinery, but that a letter service had
been furnished members.
Mr.. Hotaling voiced regret at the
death within the year of President
RronSoD of the aSSoCia tion