Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-24
F.B. MOVES DEFENDS
INTEGRITY OF PRESS
Newspapers Worthy of Conf
dence OF Their Readers, APP.
Head Tells induStriaIiStS.
BY the Associated Press.

group of representative industrialists to-
day that American newspapers, as a
whole, were worthy of the confidence
of their readers"
| Speaking at the fifth annual con-
! ference of major industries. held at Co
| lumbia University, Mr. Noyes said he
| thought every one familiar with jour-
nalisin In America In the last so
years would agree that in accuracy
of statement, In breadth of informa-
ton, in ethical standards" there had
been steady progress upward.
! Mr. Noyes, appearing as the repre-
sentative of the publishing industry,
said that the reports of newspapers
and press associations did contain
many inaccuracies" since they were
| the products of human beings but he
| gave assurance that "the intention Is
| to fairly and accurately depict the Sit
uation described"
Assails Unjust Critics.
He defended American journalism
| against forms Of attack and criticism
which, he said, were unjust, and I'M
II have no reply that I care to
make" he said, ITO those who ma
liciously and falsely irnpute motives
that do not exist or those who pro-
| fess not to believe anything they see
| in the newspapers though IN truth
tnost of the little they know that has
| fact as a basis has been garnered from
| those same newspapers" :.
perhaps the largest class OF critics,
| Mr.. Moves said, ARE those VINO mo
craftsmanship in the news reports OF
both press associations and newspapers.
/ think these critics are In the main
of entire good faith, but, unfortunately
the real trouble is that they are so par
tisan themselves what they want Is
partisanship on their side.
At have been in this business for
many years and If the time ever comes
when the Associated Press Is not
charged by all parties and most candi-
dates with adverse partisansnlp VIII
be very seriously perturbed.
! "As 1t Is, I am serenely conscious OF
| tile fact that we are doing our leVel
best, day in and day out, to keep IN
the middle of the road having no par
TALLY for any party, any churcn, any
economic theory nor any cause or man
whatever, and, on the other hand, no
hostility to any of them.
True of All, He Says.
ct know that this is true of the AS
ISOLATED Press, and I believe 1t Is also
now true of the other large press asso-
Citations.
Another form of attack "more or less
popular with critics with undevelopeo
| Intellectual honesty" Mr.. Noyes said
sis to make charge SO vehemently
so didactically. that one Is apt on
hand to conclude that If true, sinister
conclusions must be drawn"
IAN example of this" he continued
"can be given in the excited attacks on
the Associated Press when 1t sent
story from Washington stating that oui
State Department was much disturbed
over what 1t regarded as an attempt tc
establish q bolshevik hegemony over
Central America and that the depart
ments attitude toward that section OF
the world was governed by that frame
Of mind in the Department of State.
1.-THE charge was made that in dis.
tributing this story the Associated
Press became the servile tool Of the
State Department, but, when all Is said
and done, the fact remains that the
attitude of our Government was &C
,curately given in the story and in my
Judgment (although I had no knowl-
edge of it until after 1t had beer
printed. it was news OF high I'M
/
papers which compose the Associated
Press were entitled and the withhold
ing Of which, not the printing, woulc
have been a gross betrayal of trust.
Information Called Reliable.
"As to whether the apprehensions Of
the Department Of State had SUBJ
stantial foundation, as to whether the
bolsheVikS we're, or are, right or wrong
was and is no concern OF the ASso,
ciated Press-the prime fact was thai
we had definite, reliable informatior
that our Government was dealing WITT
our relations with Mexico ana MICA
ragua on this basis"
Mr., Moves found that most of the
attacks on the integrity OF newspapers
or press associations resolve them
| selves essentially into attacks on indi-
vidual workers--I1ot owners or man
agers-for every man engaged IN TINS
work knows that no executive woulc
| or could personally distort news &C.
counts and survive.
"There have been venal newspaper
| men. as there have been venal Doc
tors lawyers, business men, and ever
venal politicians, but, God be thanked
that the newspaper crooks are few anc
far between"
Mr.. NOyeS COHCluucu "AeAA =" $500
| to the news gatherers who are serving
| nobly suffering proudly. dying bravely
that YOU and I may have our daily
tidings of what is happening IN TINS
! cynical old world of ours"
Tribute TO Steel Industry.
Products of the iron and steel in
| tiustry are so vital to the country's hap
oiness. welfare and safety that the Ma
| ton may well protect and encourage 1t
in ell fair ways Myron Q. Taylor,
chairman of the United States Steel
Corporations finance committee, told
the conference.
= Pointing out that the public and
! many industries are dependent upon
industry for the smooth running OF the
| general commerce of the country, but
| that few. realize with what perfection
! the system of production must be
synchronized, Mr.. Taylor declared that
| the industry IFS serving the public Tor
| an exceedingly modest reward"
He said it is estimated that the in
| dustry has q capital in excess OF 81, 750,
600, 900, or considering property values
at reproduction cost, Of at least $4,000.
! 100000, yet the combined results OF Ia
| leading companies in the past four
| years show profit ranging only from
4.B6 per cent III 1874 10 osoo pSE Cenl
| in 1925 and 500 per cent last year. He
placed the average annual profit OF the
United States Steel Corporation be-
tween 1902 and 1905 at 6.67 per cent, and
between 1924 and 1927 at 5.66 per cent,
a relative reduction of is per cent be-
tween the two periods
Explains Swift Production.
Efforts to reduce production costs
when prices have declined through re-
Mobilization of plants with later-type
| facilities and by production of previous
ly purchased raw products or nearer APP
Proclamation of finished products, has
resulted in overexpansion Of plant ca
pacity, increased production and adj
vance In the ability to produce faster
than the demands Of the country have
| increased. Mr.. TAYLOR explained He es-