Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-19
FACTS ESSENTIAL,
DECLARES WILBUR
Secretary Tells Editors HUI
man Life Must Be Dealt
H. With Differently.

newspaper Editors today that IL the
future of the Nation is to be one OF
achievement, it will be because they as
educators succeed in causing factual
knowledge to prevail over the influence
OF political units.
The bread line is no longer factor
In our life" Mr. Wilbur said. THE
problem is the practices of democracy
versus scientific knowledge, the prob
lem of training democracies to look to
facts.
we must deal with human life in
q different way If we are to have sue
cess" Mr. Wilbur said. I'VE must use
facts instead of emotion, and I think
the newspaper will determine what Is
going to happen,
If the newspapers are to be scream
ing, emotional and volatile, then some
overforce must be brought in" he said.
Radio Viewpoint Given.
Secretary Wilbur's address was one of
three in discussion Of What Changing
Conditions Confront Us" M H. Ayles-
worth. president of the National Broad
casting Co., discussed the subject from
the viewpoint of radio development and
Paul B. Williams, editor of the Utica,
N. Y, Press, spoke of the relationship of
radio to the newspapers. Williams said
he was opposed to the use of radio by
the press.
The editors planned to bring their
annual convention to a conclusion this
evening with a dinner in the Willard
Hotel at which President Hoover will
be a guest and speaker.
The Presidents remarks will not be
available for publication, it being the
policy of the organization to regard
the Presidents address as informal.
Addresses will be delivered by Rollo
Ogden, editor of the New York Times;
H Wickham Speed, former editor Of
the London Times, and Andre Geraud,
political editor of the Echo de Paris.
Shop talk" luncheons were held by
the editors at noon for the discussion
of problems confronting the chiefs Of
reportorial stats and other depart
ments of the newspaper.
This afternoon addresses were deliv
cred by Frank E. Gannett, president of
the Gannett Newspapers, and David
Lawrence, president Of the United
States Daily, on the general topic
Trends in Journalism" Mr.. Lawrence
addressed himself to the subject Of
cooperation between the bench and
the press.
Huge DaiIies Forecast.
Mr.. Gannett made a prediction that
daily newspapers of hundred or more
pages, with natural colored photo
graphs, will eventually make their ap-
pearance.
cit seems to me there is little evil
dence of a trend toward smaller news
papers," he said, smaller either in
page size or In number of pages. The
tabloids seem to be making little head
way except in one or two of the very
largest centers of population. And
while, as result of slight decline in
business expansion, there has been a
decrease in the aveage number of pages
in most newspapers, this decrease, I
believe, is only temporary, and just as
we have seen the big day on news
papers in the larger cities climb from
SO to 48 to "a and to 70 pages, we
may expect to see them climb until
the 100-page point is reached. In
deed, I would not set the limit at 100
pages. No one can say what the
limit is.
"Of course, few persons read every
word In a newspaper Our papers have
become, believe, great literary depart
ment stores. The growth OF the size
of department stores has not been
checked merely because every custo-
mer did not stop and buy some mer-
chandise at every counter.
soon, also, / believe, we shall be
producing daily newspapers in colors-
not the somewhat crude color effects Of
our comic supplements, but color work
to compare with the best magazines.
Already very creditable color work Is
done on ordinary newsprint, but so far
the process has not been speeded up
sufficiently
Chance to Improve.
st believe that the average news
paper picture today Is not nearly so
good as it should be, either In interest
or in photography and technical pres
entation. We need to watch our
step in the picture field, particularly
because of the fine pictures presented,
with speed comparable to the enter
prise of newspapers, on the move
screen.
The teletypesetter will speed up trans.
mission of telegraph news, he said, ana
added that the development Of photo
composing machine may still further
revolutionize the printing industry"
This would substitute film for type LII
the composing room, and although oe-
velopment of satisfactory device mas
been "a difficult problem" he asserted
that he was confident photo-composing
some day would displace the metal type
casting machine.
Along with the photo composing de-
velopment," he said, there must go an
Improvement in our engraving methods,
The present process is too slow ana TOO
costly. It is strange that in all these
wears we have made no progress in en-
craving We are still using the same
old slow method of etching hard metal
by using a slow-eating acid"
Liquor Right" Denied.
In one of the few extended addresses
he has delivered IN recent months:
Chairman George w. Wickersham Of
the National Commission on Law OBJ
seryance and Law Enforcement de-
clared before the editors yesterday
afternoon that the individual has no
"inalienable right" to procure and con-
sumo liquor.
Urging prohibition law observance.
Chairman Wickersham said that opin-
ions differ as to whether 1t may be
eenth amendment But 1 appeal TO
you." he said. land through you 10 the
press of America, to aid in demonStrat-
ing that so long as the law stands as IT
does now. no patriotic American should
advocate fouting its provisions or boast
of violating its commands"
A strange confusion Of ideas" Is ap-
parent in the position of those who
protest against prohibition, the chair
man said. "It is comparatively VenIal
for one to break the law. with ones
eyes open to the consequences, but TO
unite with others in openly aiding and
abetting the violation of any law, upon
the plea that it ought not to have been
enacted and cannot be enforced, is In
vitinR revolution and anarchy"
Experience has demonstrated" Mr..
Wickersham said, that when there is
a widespread popular demand for a
change in the Constitution 1t is not
Siifficult to secure amendment. On the
other hand he said, mo minority,
however militant and clamorous. can
modify or change the fundamental law,
aycanf through the sllptne indifference