Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-22
CO-WORKERS HONOR
incl VILE T. STONE.
Associated Press Members
Pledge Themselves to Con-
tinue His Great Work.
BY the Associated Press.

|
BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. April 22.-The Asso-
ciated Press at It's annual meeting to-
day. paid tribute to Melville e. Stone,
for many years general manager and
counselor of the organization, who
died on February Is. 49,
Adolph 8. Ochs, publisher Of the New
York Times, offered resolution, which
was unanimously adopted, In which he
praised Mr.. Stones services and genius.
1t was resolved TO send steel engrav-
ing Of Mr.. Stone to all members of the
association and to place a marble or
bronze bust Of him in the executive
Offices In this city.
Career Painted in Resolution.
The resolution adopted follows:
The members Of the Associated Press,
In convention assembled, pause. in their
proceedings, to pay tribute to the
memory of one whose name and service
as the general manager and beloved
counselor Of the association since its
foundation, will ever be identified with
the history of the organization,
Melville Elijah Stone, who died on
February Is. 1929, in the eighty-first
year of his life, more than IS years of
which were devoted with self sacrifice
and pre-eminent ability to the interests
Of this association.
He was born ON August ~, 1848, at
Hudson, Ill, the son Of an itinerant
Methodist preacher, whose pulpit was
q covered wagon. At the age OF 9, he
learned to set type, and constantly
progressing, he discharged with dis
tinction the responsibility Of every
phase of newspaper endeavor.
His father settled in Chicago when
Melville Stone was IL years old, and he
became carrier boy for the Chicago
Tribune.
He advanced to higher positions on
the stats of various Chicago newspa-
pers, and In 1875 founded the Chicago
Daily News. In this enterprise he later
associated Victor F. Lawson, to whom
he sold the entire interest in 1888.
When the Associated Press of Illinois
was incorporated in 1892, he became its
general manager, having been persuaded
TO withdraw from a bank presidency,
and for five years led the historic con-
fiict with the United Press and the New
York association, which terminated in
the complete surrender of these pri-
vately owned news agencies.
General Manager FL Years.
In 1900. when the dissolution of the
Illinois Associated Press was followed by
the incorporation Of the present Asso-
ciated Press under the laws of the State
Of New York, Melville e. Stone became
its general manager and continued in
that capacity until 1921, when his fall
ing health caused him to retire from its
strenuous activities, and he became
counselor. Thus to the last he gave the
Associated Press the benefit of his
knowledge and experience and wise
counsel.
During his active life the world made
its greatest progress in science and the
practical arts. Electric light and power,
wood pulp news print, the superspeed
Web presses, stereotyping, photo-en-
craving, typesetting machines, the tele-
graph, the wireless and the radio so
facilitated and expedited the dissent
nation Of news that millions instead of
hundreds read newspapers, thus making
the newspapers the universal source of
information and the molderS of public
opinion. Melville E. Stone comprehend
ed and carried on with the progress of
his time. Realizing the ever increasing
responsibility of the press to the public, |
he made It his supreme concern to keep
pure and undefiled the fountain Of
news. -
Under Melville E. Stones able and
indefatigable management, the ASCOT
ated Press became the most remarkable
and outstanding cooperative institution
in the world dedicated to public service;
the citadel safeguarding the freedom
and independence of the press. and in
surfing the news against being corrupted
by bias, partisanship or sinister in
huence.
1880 Newspapers Are Members.
The membership of the Associated
Press now embraces 1880 newspapers,
representing every shade of political and
economic point Of view-that of the
newspapers of the great cities as well
as those OF the smaller communities of
the country-a triumph in the science
OF Self-government, demonstrating sue
ceSsfully that men can live and work
together in unity, though entertaining
and advocating divergent and DIVERSE
fed opinions as to politics, religion and
social programs.
For the attainment Of this noble DUR
pose and its practical and enduring ap-
plication. Melville E. Stone gave himself
unsparingly in effecting the organiza-
ton as an Incompatible iiewsgatherer
and distributor. dedicated not only to
the principle Of truth in the news, but
10 the belief that those who toll and
incur expenditures to secure that news
create thereby a propety right in the
fruits OF their vision and labor.
The Associated Press was not of
spontaneous origin. The general news
service TO newspapers 40 years ago had
10 De wrested from entrenched groups
possessed OF great financial resources,
VINO tramcked In the news for financial
gam. IL was not an easy task. It
needed the spirit of crusader.
militant yet persuasive, with Capacity
Tor leadership and organization. In
every emergency man arises as If by
tne grace OF Providence, to meet the
need. Thus q Washington, a Lincoln
ana other great leaders: and thus a
Melville E. Stone-to take the gather
ing OF news from privately owned organ
lzations and place 1t In the absolute con-
troll OF the newspapers served He took
up the battle of the press, and unself-
lSniy devoted his life and his fine
abilities to a public service.
Aim Was to Serve Profession.
Imbued with high ideals and rugged
honesty OF purpose, he diSregarded
many opportunities to enrich himself
In other fields of endeavor. His high
est ambition was to serve his profess
sion and the public interest. He COM
bined the rare. qualities essential for
dealing with this problem and with
the complexities of human nature. He
had the simplicity of genius; profound
common sense; brilliant, well trained
and scholarly mind; readiness Of wit;
hxedness yet pliancy; enthusiasm and
unhagging zeal. No barrier discouraged
him; no parsonage, however great or
powerful, awed him; no threats, abuse
or ridicule made him wayer.
There was no bitterness or hate in
his nature. He was earnest, patient.
naagnanimous. genial. diplomatic: and
his knowledge, experience and power