Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-25
PRESIDENT OF
A. P. UpHOLDS
NEWSPAPER
i ellis Industr ialists
That Most American
Papers Are Worthy
Of Confidence

NEW YORK. Oct. 25.-CP1-
cc.ank g.. Noyes, of the Washington
pbear, president Of the Associate
.ress' told a group of representa-
i've industrials Wednesday 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
Soiumbla University, Mr.. Noyes isaid
ne thought every one familiar with
journalism in America in the last
ilIty years would agree "that in ac-
euracy of statement, in breadth Of
information. in ethical standards"
tnere had been a steady progress
upward.
Unjust Criticism
Mr.. Noyes. appearing as the rep
fesentative Of the publishing in
o6stry, said hat the reports Of
newspapers and press associations
oid contain ''many inaccuracies"
since they were the products of hu-
ma nbeings, but he gave assurance
mat the intention is to fairly and
accurately depict the situation de-
scribed.
lie defended American Journalism
against forms Of attack ard criti-
eism which he said were unjust and
unwarranted.
II have no reply that I care TO
make he said. Ito those who
maliciously and falsely impute mo-
tiyes that do not exist, or those
VINO profess not to believe anything
they see in the newspapers, though
IN truth most Of the little they know
that has fact as a basis has been
garnered from those same ews
papers"
Many Charges
Perhaps the largest class Of
s%ritics," Mr.. Boyes said, "are those
who find partisanship 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
partisan themselves that what they
want is partisanship on their sids.
Il have been in this business for
many years and il the time ever
comes when the Associated Press Is
not charged by all parties and most
candidates with adverse partisan
ship, | will be very seriously per-
! turbed.
AS it is ! am serenely conscious
Of the fact that we are doing our
level best, day in and day out. to
keep in the middle of the road, hav-
ing no partiality for my party. any
church, any economic theory nor any
cause or mar whatever and, on the
other hand, no hostility to any OF
them.
Do Not Make News
know that this is true Of the
associated Press and ! believe it Is
also now rue OF the other large
press associations"
Another form OF attack more or
less popular with critics with unde-
velopad Intellectual honesty" Mr..
Moves said. ais 10 make a charge
so vehemently. so didactically that
o-e is apt off-hand TO conclude that
n true. sinister conclusions must be
be drawn"
"An example Of this" he contin-
ued, "can be given in the excited at
tacks on the Associated Press when
Il sent a story from Washington
stating that our state department
was much disturbed over what IL re-
garded as an attempt to establish
a bolshevik hegemony over Central
/ America and that the departments
attitude toward that section Of the
world was governed by that frame
j Of mind in the department Of state.
Nicaraguan News
"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
accurately given in the story and
In my judgment (although ! had
no knowledge OF il until after it had
! been printed, il was news OF high
importance TO which readers Of the
newspapers which compose the Asso-
Mated Press were entitled and the
withholding Of which. not the print
kng, would have been a gross be-
travail of trust.
"As to whether the apprehensions
kof the department Of state had a
s~ubstantial Foundation, as TO wheth-
4 HF I00 DOlclCNlhS Wtit VI - AtHN
or wrong. has and is no concern OF
the Associated Press-the prime fact
vas that we had definite. reliable
information that our government
was dealing with u relations with
Mexico and Nicaragua on this basis
Crooks Far Between
" Mr.. Noyes found that most OF the
attacks on the integrity of news
papers or press associations re
solve themselves essentially into at
lacks on individual workers-not
owners or managers for every man
engaged in this work knows that no
executive would or could personally
sistort news accounts and survive"
"There have been venal newspaper
men rs there have been venal doc
tors. lawyers. business men and
syen venal politicians. but God be
thanked that the newspaper crooks
are few and far between"
Mr.. Moves concluded with a trib-
vta 10 the news gatherers who are
serving nobly. suffering proudly,
sving bravely that you and may
have u daily tidings Of what =
happening in this cynical old world