The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-06
PUBLICITY IS one OF GREATEST SAFE
GUARDS OF OFFICIAL INTEGRITY. SAYS
COOLIDGE AT PRESS CLUB DEDICATION
President Urges American
Newspapers to Cooperate
With Their Government in
International Affairs and
Extend to Foreign Interests
a Tolerant and Sympathetic
CandOr

Washington, Feb. 6.-tRj-Dedi.
eating the new National Press Club,
President Coolidge declared Satur.
day night that American news
papers should cooperate with their
government in international affairs
and extend to foreign interests Q
tolerant and sympathetic candor.
He laid down the principle that
the government itself is charged
with the conduct. of international
relations and suggested that when
any of the press undertakes to exert
It's influence in behalf of foreign
interests "thc candor Of the situa-
tion would be greatly increased if
their foreign connections were pub
licly disclosed"
Foreign interests. the president
said, have the privilege Of being
represented in the United States
and their right to fair treatment is
acknowledged.
"But," he added, "when foreign
governments are represented here,
their agents are requird to come
publicly accredited and be publicly
received.
"For generations our law has for
hidden our own citizens entering
into any negotiations for a foreign
government concerning its relations
with our own government. Such
negotiations can only be carried on
under the direction Of the presi-
dent"
Publicity Is Safeguard
The President reiterated his be-
lief that one of the greatest safe
guards of official integrity is pub
licity and while this should not ex-
tend to IAN espionage of the per-
sonal and private action Of govern
ment officials, It does concern their
rublic conduct.
"All those who have interests
which may be affected by govern
mental action should have the priv
ilege of employing representatives
to present their cause and defend
their rights" he continued.
"Nobody questions this on the
judicial side, but those who are so
engaged arc required to be licensed
and their appearance before such
tribunals is a matter of court rec
ord. As in the case of the federal
government those who are anp'o-
gously employed in legislative and
departmental matters arc not re-
quired to make a like disclosure Of
the interests which they undertake
to serve, it is necessary to depend
on the press for such information. "
As time goes on. Mr.. Coolidge
said, "the spirit of mankind" is
more and more demanding that gov
crnment and society be conducted
under the laws of truth, and he eau
toned that those who forget that
precept "arc bound. for moral ex-
plosion." -.
Agency of Prevention
Publicity" he. said, "is not only
the main agency. of reform, it is
likewise the main agency Of pre-
vention. In its true function it is
not the voice Of the individual re-
rorter or editor, but the voice Of
public expression. 1t represents the
thought, the hope. the aspirations
and the faith Of the people"
The press, however. should not
only be fair, Mr.. Coolidge declared.
but it should remember in its
criticism that there is q need for
discrimination. Constant attack up
on the administration Of public a.
fairs. the operation Of commercial
Enterprises, the conduct Of social
life and the fomentine Of class dis
tinctions and jealousies, he said,
disintegrate the spirit Of patriot
ism.
"There e always need for criti.
cism." the president declared. 'but
there Is likewise need for discrim.
ination. Thers Is . requirement tor
justice and truth. sss
sConstantly - portray the fail
ures and the delinduents Is grossly
to mislead the public. Il breeds an
unwsrranted spirit Of cynicism.
Life r made up Of the .uccesstu!
and the worthy. In any candid
representation Of current condition.
they have the first claim TO atteu.