The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-26
Declares Organizations
\ Growth TypicaIIy
American.
BIZ TimeS Special

NEW YORK, April 26.-The
speech of President Coolidge at the
United Press dinner here last night
follows:
The gathering and the distribution
Of news have long since ceased to
be local and individual occupation.
They have become identified with
great organizations having their
representatives in all parts Of the
country and their publications in
severy important center. This serv-
ice could only be performed by
mutual exchange of the most in
elusive nature How rapid and com.
plete has been the growth of these
organizations is exemplified by the
the UnitedA~--Press which is
now celebrating It's twentieth
anniversary. In that short space
Of time it has spread far and wide
over North and South America,
and become an instrument of both
national and international publicity.
This growth and power of the
press carries with it great obliga-
tons. 1t IS automatic that a free
press can exist only in a free
country. One of the first efforts Of
all kinds of absolutism is to control
the press and the schools as the
sources Of information and education
of the people, Where the press is
free, as it is in our country under
the guarantees of the National and
State Constitutions, 1t has q
reciprocal duty OF its own to per-
form toward the Administration of
eAhe Government, of giving true re-
1orts to the people of the actions OF
public officials. TO do otherwise
would be to establish a petty
tyranny of its own. In America the
general sources Of information are
SO numerous and on the whole so
correct that any publication which
constantly misrepresents very soon
becomes marked as unreliable and
loses its influence both for good and
for harm.
Character Mirror
1t is natural that the press should
represent the character of the gov
eminent under which it lives and of
the people which it serves. / have
come to have a profound regard for
the American press because it rep
resents America. In the accuracy
of it's reports, the intelligence of its
comments, and the freedom of its
actions, I know of no other country
where 1t is surpassed. There ought
TO be a deeper realization Of these
conditions on the part of those who
are responsible for the conduct of
our press which should be reflected
on their part in a more intense and
genuine Americanism. If you lived
under some jurisdictions your news
would be garbled and unfair, your
editorial comments would be dwarfed
and prejudiced, your conduct would
he cramped and limited. Because
America is what it is, you are what
you are. Your own independent and
exalted position fully demonstrates
that this country is worthy at all
times OF your service and your sup
mort. Whenever any section of our
ess turns on America and on
: american institutions, and assumes
foreign attitude, every informed per-
SON knows that It has fallen from
the high estate which is our COM
mon heritage, and becoming no
longer worthy of regard is destined
to defeat and failure. No American
can profit by selling his own country
for foreign favor.
Peace, Nations Purpose
The policy that our nation is try,
ing to promote throughout the world
is one of peace and good will based
on n better understanding through
justice and fair dealing. 1t is per-
foctly apparent that there are three
main elements on which we rely to
advance this cause. First is the Ma
tional Government as it comes into
contact through it's duly constituted
officers with the governments and
people of other countries. l doubt If
the belief exists in any informed
quarter that this is a belligerent
Government DESTROYS of oppression
or bent on conquest. Our whole his
tory and tradition, the moderation of
our Military Establishment and the
general attitude of our people, would
altogether disprove any such assump-
ton.
Another very important considera-
ton is that Of trade and commercial
relations. While a certain number
Of foreign people come to this coun-
try to transact business without in
tending to make this their perma-
nent home, their number is negligible
and any difficulty arising from their
presence here is almost unknown.
They have practically every advan-
MRge and every protection that is
%&dorded to our own citizens. OF
their conduct ON the whole We have
had little to blame and much to
praise. In the past foreign interests
have had investments in this coun-
try running into several billions Of
dollars. Being made at time
when we had insufficient capital to
develop our own resources, such in
vestments were most helpful in build
ing our railroads, opening our mines
and supporting our manufacturing.
As we have come into the posses
sion Of surplus capital we have
shown an increasing disposition to
extend this same kind Of service to
other countries. Our people have
gone abroad with their investments,
their technical skill and commercial
ability, to assist in opening up un-
developed countries.
The Natural Result
This is the natural play of the
forces of civilization 1t is the re-
suit OF natural and commendable en-
terprise which carries with it the
same kind of benefits and advan-
tages to the other people which we
ourselves formerly received from