Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-21

America. No wonder, after such a
perilous trip, the hospitable shores
Of South America seemed haven.
And with my first contacts there /
found that the spirit was at once
generous and sincere. Greeted with
that spirit, the effort to establish The
Associated Press in that continent
was not difficult one.
"And SO, not because Of my poor
efforts at speaking Spanish, not be-
cause of any craftsmanship, but be-
cause South American newspaper
publishers accepted the idea that
there must come into being a mu-
tual news exchange between these
sister continents, the mission was
successful. The Associated Press is
today the medium of that exchange
which is bringing a better under
standing.
This traveller, therefore, tells
you that chief credit for the exist
ence of this mutual news exchange
is due to the leading newspapers Of
South America represented by mem
bership In The Associated Press.
That is why we so gladly welcome
them and their colleagues today. In
your name and in their language 1
, have given them cordial welcome"
Behind the speakers dais were in
tertwined the colors of the South
American republics with the colors
Of the United States.
Another special guest at the
luncheon was Commander John
! Rodgers, who was made an honora-
ry reporter of The Associated Press
for his report of the adventures of
! hn 90 I,4 IN
written for The Associated Press,
after the plane had been lost for
days in the Pacific. Commander
Rodgers was presented with watch
from The Associated Press for this
story.
cat the time of suspense regard
ms these fiiers,' Mr.. Cooper said.
"The Associated Press requested
Commander John Rodgers to tell of
the flight. He wrote in a style
worthy of any newspaper man, and
in all the newspapers was printed
the first story to have over it his
name. For this work I had the
honor to appoint him an honorary
staff member"
Following this introduction, Com
| mander Rodgers replied:, q
II think it's a well-known weak
ness that man takes greater pleas
| ure in his amateur successes than
those In his profession. had great
pleasure in finding that as an avia-
tor was a good reporter, when the
word came from no less an author
ity than the greatest news gathering
and disseminating organization in
the world.
II got the watch from a safe de-
post box last night, and today wore
it attached to heavy chain around
my neck"
Following the program of
speeches, the lights were extinguish-
ed and there flashed on a motion
picture screen pictorial descrip-
ton of The Associated Press, pre-
pared by courtesy of the Pathe News
Reel. Flashes of the different old
means of transmitting news were
followed by pictures describing the
complete passage of the story of the
assumed eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
From the edge of the crater the
story was sent to Rome by telegraph,
flashed to New York by cable, tran
scribed from cable tape to words in
the New York Office of The Assoc
ciated Press and transmitted on the
wires. The story then was followed
into the Evening World, where it
was printed and put upon the street.
This exposition was followed by a
reel of important news events oc--
curing during the life of The As
ISOLATED Press.