Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-16
CONVENE
FOR 3-DAY SESSION
Hoover Will Hold Informal
Conference With 100 Men,
berS This Evening.

The most imperative task of the
American newspaper editor today is to
encourage discussion of the best means
of readjusting the industrial world for
recovery from its present disorder.
Some 100 members of the American
Society of Newspaper Editors, who met
at the National Press Club this after
noon for a three-day convention, were
assured by their president that there
is no agency or means other than the
newspaper press" for the adequate ex-
position of the national problem.
will Visit White House.
Fred Fuller Shedd, editor Of the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, told the
editors the newspapers have done their
share in furnishing practical relief, but
pointed out much yet remains to be
done toward preventing a recurrence
of economic depression such as the
country has passed through during the
past 18 months.
A feature of the convention will be
an informal reception at the White
House tonight, when the editors will
be received by President Hoover for a
round-table conference.
Only society members will be present
and nothing will be published concern
ing subjects which the President dis
cuSSeS.
Conference to Set Precedent.
The visitors are expected about 9
o'clock and probably will be closeted with
President Hoover for two hours. At
the convention last year the President
addressed the annual banquet of the
society. 1t was said this will be the
first time the President ever has re-
ceived and talked with newspaper edt-
tors in such an informal fashion.
AS preliminary to the opening adj
dress. the society sent friendly greet
1ngs to IL newspaper editors In as many
different countries of the world. The
messages were dispatched direct from
the meeting place in the Press Club
Auditorium by telegraph, cable and
wireless.
Have Done Full Part"
Continuing his opening address, Mr..
Shedd said that "the newspapers of the
United States have done their full part
in a national movement of benoyolence,
OF friendlineSs, of sympathy and prac-
teal relief from misfortune without
equal in the history Of the people.
The readiness with which those who
have responded to the need Of those
who have not, thousands Of those who
had but little having denied them
selves to give relief to those who had
less, has been striking demonstration
that the heart Of humanity still beats.
steadily and strongly, and is the con-
vinclng answer to those who have dis
RnTT1nT - ~
America but the chase for the dollar. I"
Predicts Hard Times Again.
Mr.. Shedd predicted that hard
times Will come again. adding that
the experiences through which we
have been passing ought to have con-
WINGED us that something more than
relief Is involved in the problem, and
that our minds ought to be directed
diligently upon the discovery and ap-
plication of remedy and of means for
forestalling and preventing a recurrence
of the misfortune.
I believe there is no problem more
seriously threatening the fundamental
welfare Of the people of the United
states and the institutions of social
and economic order which have served
us so well and which are typical of our
national ideals"
Shedd said Unemployment" did not
follow solely upon the folly of the stock
market" plumbers actual or alleged In
tariff making, and was not a reverbera-
ton of the World War, but was def
nitely related to conditions in our eco
nomic theme and its development.
Newspapers Must Be Active.
If we do not want to risk the danger
OF such laundering negligence, If we do
not want to incur the peril which gov
eminent doles have brought upon Great
Britain, If we want properly and scien-
ti1cally to diagnose the ailment and to
determine a remedy adequate for our
Ills, the newspapers of the United
States must be prepared and active. +"
Shedd said. %" There is no pending
or prospective issue Of politics, whether
1t be peril of a power trust or a matter
Of international relations, more perth
nent and more imperatively remanding
newspaper service in news and editorial
columns, than this readjustment of the
industrial world for recovery from its
present disorder.
There is no agency or means other
than the Newspaper press by which the
discussion of such a national problem.
its adequate exposition, the considera-
ton of its various phases and angles,
the differentiation between true and
false remedies. can serve the public and
aid in formation of desirable sentiment
and competent opinion"
Many Addresses Listed.
Other features on the program of
the afternoon included a welcome to
Washington extended by E. S. Leggett,
president of the National Press Club.
and an address by Lincoln B. Palmer,
general manager of the American
Newspaper Publishers Association, on
publicity.
William Green, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, will adj
dress the society tomorrow.