Evening star., 1927-04-25

month, year by year, our membership
grew and the number of clients of the
United Press dwindled.
Threw Up Sponge.
This process of accretion on the one
side and altrftf,r on the other went
on steadily art in 1896 and early Va
1897 variou. ruthless conferences be-
tween the opposing leaders took place,
but the conflict continued until
April s, 1897, when by overwhelming
vote by the directors of the United
Press that concern threw up the
sponge.
There followed a wild scramble to
secure membership in the Associated
Press and our officers and directors
were very busy for a considerable
time in clearing away difficulties.
They had definitely adopted a policy
that no renrisals were TO be exacted
and exerted themselves strenuously to
the end that no established news.
papers should be left outside the fold.
In this effort they We're extraordinarily
successful. as any number here today
can testify.
"For a short time life in the Asso-
ciated Press was apparently tranquil,
and so far as we knew was tranquil,
but very large-sized cloud was just
beyond the horizon The Chicago
Inter-Ocean had beer charged with
violation of the by-laws-the section
in question having been upheld by
the courts in several jurisdictions.
Persisting in the violation, the Inter
Ocean was expelled, whereupon it
sought reinstatement through the
Illinois courts. The decisions of the
lower court and of the appellate court
were in favor Of the Associated Press
and the case was carried to the
Supreme Court of the State.
An Astounding Decision.
"On February 10, 1900, out of
clear sky. came an astounding decision
by the Illinois Supreme Court. AL
though not mentioned in the pleadings,
the Illinois corporation was declared
a common carrier-apparently princi-
pally on the ground that in the origi-
nal charter some one had entirely
inserted a clause author
izine the erection of telegraph lines
a procedure that had not even been
so far as any of us
knew. The court held, however, that
this potentiaI power, even though un-
exercised. made the organization
common carrier and that any appIl-
cant must be served.
For a time confusion reigned. SUITS
were filed to compel the Associated
Press of Illinois to render service to
Counter suits were
threatened by members in other States
If their contract rights We're invaded.
"a number of us believed that we
could form an organization in another
State and, under the protection of law,
preserve our essential rights. After
D most exhaustive investigation, and,
after taking an enormous amount OF
legal advice from the leaders of the
bar throughout the country, we
formed the present New York organi-
zation and invited all members of the
Illinois corporation to join with us
in the new venture.
Practically Unanimous Response.
"The response was practically
unanimous and the New York mem
oership corporation began operation
on September 80, 1900.
During the years since that date
there have been only a few events Of
really great interest even to news
paper men. Several legal assaults
have been successfully repelled. For
years Melville T.. Stone insisted that
On a proper presentation in the courts
The open and avowed appropriation of
our news could be stopped and we
won on his contention from the lower
court to the Supreme Court of the
TTnitad Ctat apd zion 1,f