Evening star., 1926-04-07
Pan.American Journalists.

In accordance with the provisions of
q resolution adopted by the Fifth Pan
American Conference in Santiago,
Chile, three years ago, representatives
of the leading newspapers of all the
American Republics are gathered in
Washington today for the opening of
the First Pan-American Congress OF
Journalists. This event finds the
newspa per man in a new and interest
ing role. His traditional post has been
on the side lines. a close observer of
the actors and a critical reporter of
their movements. Now he must step
down from his obscurely safe vantage
point and take his place in the spot
lght. He becomes his own critic. His
success or failure lies within himself.
There is much Of promise and OF
hope In this new role, especially as 1t
concerns. as in this instance, the field
Of International relations. The impor-
tance of the press as an agency for
fostering good viii and as a medium
for the dissemna tion OF desirable prop
SSSnda mas never Deen unueFeSll-
mated. nor has the potential power for
good or for evil of those who write for
the press been denied. But too little
thought is given to the necessity of
having a thoroughly informed as well
as sympa thetically inclined press.
Careless or ignorant Interpretation Of
events regardless of the motive, can
tear down in an Incredibly short
time all the good that has been accom-
pished through years of painstaking
effort
This First Pan-American Congress of
Journalists. therefore, takes high rank
In Importance and significance with
the many conferences which have
been held in the past quarter of cen
tury between representatives of va
rious interests i'm the American Re
puhlcs For the first time the men
who have the power and the privilege
of directing public opinion are meet
inE in Washington, not only TO discuss
some Of the technical problems com
mon 10 them in their chosen field of
journalism. but TO get acquainted,
to make friends and to obtain the
other mans point of view. On this
occasion the guests are from the Re-
publics Of South and Central America.
Their hosts are the newspa per men Of
the United States. In addition to the
beneft which the guests may derive
from actual contact with their hosts,
a tour has been arranged to show
them something Of the country. The
visitors will see places which bear an
historical interest because of their as
sociation with traditions dear to US as
a nation. They will have pointed out
Ia them what the United States is do
Ing industrially, commercially and cul-
turally. In the end they will have
gained something through personal in
spection that otherwise would have
been lost. They will go back home to
write Understandings, as well as SYM
psthetically, of what we are doing in
this country and of the motives under
lying our accomplishments.
But there the task undertaken in
this First Congress will have been only
begun. These visitors have shown a
hattering interest and a praiseworthy
motive in journeying thousands of
miles to see us. 1t is to be hoped that
the success OF this first meeting will
result in a second congress TO afford
the newspaper men of the United
States an opportunity to repay the
compliment. The need for a proper
understanding and appreciation of the
others country and ideals is not con-
aned 10 the journalists of the South.