The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-21
1t
Seems
to
Me
BY Haywood Br0un

DIV ncNWOou DtVun
NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-"I hear"
IN said my boss. that you went
to Washington and got yourself
elected president of the American
Newspaper Guild Why don't you
write something about it in your
column and tell what the guild is
all about?"
The president" answered
stifHy, will be glad to meet the
gentlemen Of the press on alter
nate Fridays at 4 o'clock.
BE yourself, Mr.. Broun," said
my boss, land interview yourself.
DO it as a column. 1 think it might
have Just as much general interest
as a whole lot you've written. After
all. newspaper work is one Of the
most romantic pursuits in the
world"
And so it will be an interview
The columnist will be indicated
as Mr.. Broun' and the president
Of the American Newspaper Guild
as Mr.. P. A. N G."
Mr.. Broun: L understand that
my boss has said that newspaper
work is one of the most romantic
pursuits in the world Do you agree
with him, Mr.. PRESIDENT"
MIR. P. A. N. CT: 81 do. In fact,
Nl I quite frequently find my
self in agreement with my boss.
The romantic nature of the news
paper craft is one of the chief rea-
sons why editorial workers should
organize. In times past there has
been a disposition to say: Why,
you boys don't care how long you
work or how much money you get,
Look at the fun you're having l
can offer some personal testimony
out of my twenty-five years in
shall 1 say?-'journalism.' 1 have
been underpaid, adequately paid
and overpaid. 1 found newspaper
work even a little more romantic
when I was overpaid."
Mr.. Broun: rs it the notion Of
this guild that if a reporter is in
an automobile chasing after a po-
lice car in pursuit of two bandits
he shall Immediately quit work the
minute the whistle blows?"
Mr.. P. A. N. G.: Young man,
don't ask silly questions. The
Newspaper guild is made up of
newspaper men. We know perfect
~ well that there are many kinds
of work on which a man may have
to stick not only six days a week
but seven. On certain stories
reporter may have to be on call
twenty-four hours. But we believe
in a basic five-day week and
forty-hour week"
Mr.. Broun: What do you mean
by that?"
MIR. P. A. N. c.: Imagine for
NI moment that you are a COM
petent reporter. You are sent out
to Oklahoma on kidnapping story.
On a morning paper you work
seven days a week on this story for
six weeks. When you come back to
the office you have twelve days of
vacation coming to you, and they
should be caShed in Immediately"
Mr.. Broun: And why does the
guild want the five-day week?"
Mr.. P. A. N. G.: Because it will
make for better newspaper work
and because it will provide re-
employment. That is the whole
notion of NRA, and without a
shorter working week no extra men
at all will be taken on"
Mr.. Broun: But won't it be i'm
possible for some small papers to
use the f1ve-day week without 60
ing broker"
Mr.. P. A. N. G.: 1T may be so. A
survey is being conducted now. But
in any case the papers which can't
operate under the five-day week
should be the exception. The gen.
eral principle should be imposed.
Several papers are already operat-
ing under the five-day scheme.
But it shouldn't be left to a volun-
tary gesture. And, anyhow. the
papers which operate on this re-
employment scheme ought to be
protected against the competition
of papers in their own city which
save money by operating their
STATS on a longer schedule. That
falls under the NRA definition of
unfair competition"
Mr.. Broun: rs it the intention
of the newspaper guild to seek
affiliation with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and become
regular trades union?"
MIR. P. A. N. G.: DO you mind
1VI if 1 talk off the record?
wouldn't want to be quoted on this.
You see, I have no authority to
determine guild policy. I'm only
one of a group of administrative
officials. But I can give you my
personal opinion in case you are
interested"
Mr.. Broun: Il would be delighted
TO hear it."
time a very large majority of the
guild membership is against any
sort of affiliation. 1t wants to pat
tern the guild around a model such
as the British Institute of Journal
lists. 1t is particularly interested
in the provisions gained by news
paper men in France and in Eng
land as to security in the job For
instance, We feel that if man has
worked seven or eight years for the
same paper he should not be fired
without six months notice or six
months pay if they just can't
stand the sight of him. Naturally,
there would be an exception in the
case of fragrant misconduct. That
could be arbitrated. The question
of affiliation is not even being dis
cusSed. We feel that we can get
the things We want through our
present organization If we don't
well, that's another problem.
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