The Washington times., 1929-04-19
WAR
ON POWER
TRUST

Open warfare upon the efforts Of
the International Paper Companytto
gain grip on newspapers and their
editorial policies broke out ct the
meeting Of the American Society OF
Newspaper Editors today.
Alarmed at the inroads already
made by this powerful corporation in
New England, Willis ]. Abbott. edl-
tor of the Christian Science Monitor
Of Boston, proposed to the conven-
ton that d COMMITTEES be appointed
to study the tactics and policies Of
this company, said to be subsidiary
OF the Power Trust.
Action Late Today
1t is expected that the society Of
editors, which is meeting at the Ma
tional Press Club. viii act upon the
Abbott proposal late today.
The Boston editor declared that
the International Paper Company
had attempted to gain control OF
several newspapers in larger cities
and has justified the suspicion"
that it was trying to gain control
of editorial columns for the purpose
of sflencing possible criticism OF It's
power projects.
Abbott's recommendation was
made following discussion by
George B. Parker. OF the Scripps-
Howard newspapers. Parker de-
clared that the former policy OF the
public utilities had been "the pub
lie be damned" The power trust"
has now changed it's policy. 1t has
'raided newspapers and secured
press-a gents who "sneaked" propa-
ganda into school textbooks. Parker
said.
Chain Journalism, so-called, is an
integral part of the economic
development of the United States.
las inevitable and ais intensely
modern as great railroad systems,
branch banks, and chain stores,
Col. Frank Knox. general manager
of the Hearst newspapers, told the
editorial convention.
Group newspapers have been
gradually brought about by the
iemand for more, better, and more
varied newspaper content, a more
complete coverage of the news, and
quicker distribution" he declared.
Greater Independence
Probably one of the greatest
merits OF the chain system is that
it gives greater independence, addi-
tional liberty of action, to each
newspaper belonging to 1t. This
may seem paradoxical. but 1t IL not.
Many an individual newspaper
has gone into a. local fight-perhaps
against crooked politics, against
graft, against crime, or In behalf
OF some needed reform and, from
lack of resources, has been driven
from the field, perhaps annihilated.
ITO newepsrer belonging 90
a stroag group there Is little
danger of this. Reserve forces,
both financial and in personnel,
can be called on until the battle
is over and the paper has tided
over the strain,
The only chain that can menace
our institutions or our ideals is any
chain that might possibly bind a
newspaper to sordid interests, to
selfish and un-American ambitions,
to corrupt and dangerous political
Vaccinations.
90 Big Groups
1T Is said that IS per cent OF the
total circulation of American news.
papers Is represented in 55 groups.
IN all, there are about $50 news
papers, with n total capitalization
Of $500, ,000, 900, included In the
greater or smaller groups. The
group idea Is not confined to the
larger newspapers or the larger
cities; country newspapers are com.
bining or being combined rapidly.
Senator Arthur Capper, owner Of
several farm papers, declared that
the editorial page of a newspaper is
a very integral part of that news
paper and cannot be dispensed with.
"The editorial writer's of today are
abreast of the times and are doing
their best to express public feeling
and to point out the right course,
said the Senator. Capper was speak
ing on the status of the editorial
page Of q newspaper.