The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-29
Publishes Statement


A statement by the new publish
ers in the first consolidated edition
of the Evening News issued Tuesday
said in part:
"In a newspaper sense, Denver is
unique. For years this city has been
marked journalistically by one large
and three comparatively small publ
cations The trend has been more
and more toward a monopoly by the
largest, the Denver Post published
by F. G.. Bonfils. That trend has
threatened Denver for some time
with a newspaper dictatorship. Such
situation is attributed to a combi-
nation Of causes:
First the very agile and adroit
publishing ability Of f. G.. Bonfils,
who by one means or another has
been able to force his newspaper
ahead of the field.
Second, an overcrowded competi-
tive condition that has made possible
the growth Of one at the expense of
the others. That condition could be
corrected only by one process-a
merger such as that which has now
been brought about. A newspaper
monopoly at best is bad. At worst
it becomes a dire menace to the prog
ress and prosperity Of the commu-
nifty in which it exists. We believe
that a dictatorship of Denver's news
paper field by the Denver Post would
be nothing less than a blight and we
believe furthermore because of GER
tain developments of recent occur
renee that the time is ripe for chal-
longing that dictatorship. Hence the
merger and the accompanying pledge
that the resources of the Scripps-
Howard organization are behind this
move to correct what we consider
to be q sinister journalistic situa-
ton"
For the time being the Evening
News is using the full service of
both the United Press and the Asso-
ciated Press, and the Rocky Noun
tain News the full services of the
United News and the Associated
Press.
1t is learned, however, that the
Scripps-H Howard organization has
made no formal application for trans
fer of the Associated Press member
ships which would normally pass to
them as new owners Of the prop
critics.
Attitude ON A. p.
When asked for a statement on
his attitude and intentions regard
ing the Associated Press member
ships, Roy w. Howard, chairman of
the board, said:
Our newly combined Denver
properties and the Knoxville News
Sentinel are continuing as clients of
both the United Press and Associated
Press on temporary basis, pend
ing decision by the Associated Press
board Of directors on points we have
raised in connection with the recent
consultations.
II expect that the Associated
Press executive committee will reach
decision on the matter next week.
In the meantime, we have not asked
to have the A. P. memberships
owned by the purchased papers
transferred and have declined to
sign the Associated Press bylaws.
Meanwhile, the A. P. service is be-
ing continued on a temporary basis
through the courtesy of General
Manager Kent Cooper.
'"The point at issue is the clause
in the Associated Press. bylaws
whereby that organization assumes
ownership and property right in all
local news collected by a member
and assumes to tell the paper what
it shall not do with its. own local
news.
"Scripps-H Howard has been unwill-
ing to accept the Associated Press
membership owned by four newspa-
pers acquired during the past ten
days unless it can retain for itself
complete freedom of action in use
and disposition of all news collected
by it's newspapers. We have ex.
pressed willingness to cover fully
any local field in which we might
accept the service of the Associated
Press with the same promptness,
care and thoroughness that we cover
1t for the United Press organization,
but we are unwilling to permit any
news service to dictate the disposal
we may make Of our news.
Value Only Normal
I'VE do not regard the Associated
Press membership or franchise as