Evening star., 1926-04-20

are the surest foundation for world
peace.
II pay my tribute to the Associ
ated Press-its president. Mr.. Frank
r. Noyes: it's general manager, Mr..
Kent Cooper, and you. the members
who support them so loyalty, for
the national and international serv-
ice this great organization is render
ing humanity.
THE newspapers of the United
States reflect the sterling qualities
of the great news organization upon
which they chiefly rely. They have
definitely emerged from that era in
which principal attention was given
to domestic news. They keep their
readers informed Of events abroad.
many of them maintaining their own
correspondents in principal centers TO
interpret and amplify the news.
II think that in one important re
Spect the American newspapers are
superior TO any in the world. II is
true that the papers of Great Britain
have established d high reputation
for accuracy and independence, but
1t has always seemed to me that The
principal function of the British news
paper was to inform and instruct It's
readers. While the American news
end, it endeavors to do something
more--to entertain.
Wealth of Bright Features.
"Thus we find the American news
paper not only gives the solid news
at homo and abroad. but also varies
the literary diet with a wealth OF
bright articles and features. What
impresses the visiting journalists is
that the American newspaper has
been. made entertaining without any
loss of dignity or editorial weight.
But most of all we admire your news
Dapers because of their absolute IN
dependence and the sacrifices they
make for that principle which is so
essential to us all-the freedom or
the press"
Report Of Directors
broadening of the scope of the
Associated Press during the past year
"to encomnaSS Il more complete pic
tlIre Of what the world is doing was
recounted in report of the board OF
directors NJ 4 special meeting yester-
day.
While the organization has con
timed TO strive for truthful report
ing and not diminished its efforts to
obtain news of prime Importance, the
report said the year had witnessed
a greater effort TO obtain news OF
the activities of women, art, music,
amusements, including the theater
and moving pictures, or science anu
of literary affairs.
The question of liberalizing the as
sociation's policy in broadcasting news
bv radio was discussed by a number of
sneakers. but no definite action was
taken During the past year the
organization has given its members
permission to broadcast some of the
more outstanding news.
Among those taking part in the
discussion were: +. ]. Lynett of the
Scranton. Pa, Times; Clarence ],
Smith of the Allentown. Pa, Call;
Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles
Times: Charles A. Webb of the Ash
vile, n. c., Citizen: Adolph S. Ochs
of the New York Times; and c. p. j.
Some Of the speakers. in urging a
more liberal use of radio news, ar.
gued that sales of newspapers had
been increased as a. result, and others
said that it added to the prestige OF
the association and the papers.
Silent Tribute to Mr.. Lawson.
At the start of tho meeting the mem
bers stood in silence for one minute in
memory of Victor Fremont Lawson
of the Chicago Daily News. first presi-
dent of the Associated Press, who died
last year.
Increased cooperation Of the mem.
hers, expansion of the supplementary
news report, improvement in the state
services for interchange of news and
increased facilities for transmitting
news were commended by various
speakers.
At the close of the meeting Presi-
dent Noyes paid a personal tribute to
Mr.. Cooper, who is rounding out his
first year as general manager Mr..
Noyes said. in part:
AS an executive officer my work
has been greatly aided, and / feel sure
your interests have been very greatly
assisted by the work of Mr.. Kent
Cooper.
IL am sure that since the days of
many years ago, when Melville T..
Stone Cformer general manager and
now counselorl was in very close and
intimate contact with the membership,
there has been no such successful ef-
fort to bring the executive side of
the Associated PreSs into close con-
tact with the members and to learn
what the members wanted, so far as
it was humanity possible, and to do