Evening star., 1934-04-19
EDITORS DISCUSS
NEW DEAL QU|RKS.
National Groups President
Says Freedom of Press
Hinges on Service.

Bespeaking frank and open discus
sion of the new problems precipitated
upon the press by the new DEAL" Paul
Bellamy. president of the organization,
today sounded the keynote for discus
sion as the twelfth annual convention
OF the American Society of Newspaper
Editors got under way at the National
Press Club.
Bellamy, managing editor Of the
Cleveland Plain Dealer, addressing
men who direct many of the Nations
newspapers, told them that plans for
the meeting, which Is lasting through
Saturday, had been drawn on the
theory that I'VE would not be afraid
to tackle hot pokers because they
are hot"
Whether we have agreed with the
new deal or resented it, we have had
which demanded all the wit we pos
sessed," he said. I'VE have had
chances to take leadership that we
never had before. We have found
people looking to us as never before.
Every day we have wrestled with poll
cies of the National Government which
we could see with half an eye might
make or break the country. We have
realized that the future of the Amer
ican press, like that of every other
key institution in the country. such
as the church, the school and the
business structure. was intimately
bound up in the course the new deal
took"
Other Problems.
There have been, too, the particular
problems of the newspaper publish
ing industry, Bellamy added, created
by necessity for expanding and i'm
proving the news report in keeping
with the developments of the times
in the face of curtailed revenues.
There is also the new element of
the editorial guild to be considered,
the speaker said, amplifying that this
is due for discussion.
The newspaper code also came In
for comment. 1T is well the freedom
of the press is guaranteed in the
Constitution, Bellamy said. For my
self, 1 am grateful to those of our
number who by their own efforts had
that freedom reiterated in the news
paper code. But in larger sense we
and our successors will make or break
the freedom of the press by the use
we make of that freedom in our news
papers.
If We truly serve the people, II We
fight for the poor and oppressed, If
we resist alike the demagogue and the
exploiter, if we keep the faith. the
freedom Of the press by which We
live and move and have our being
will rest forever secure in the solid
rock Of public salvation. There is no
sure salvation for us outside of that"
Gen. johnson Speaker.
For the first day of the convention
there was scheduled an address by
Gen. Hugh s. Johnson, head Of the
N. r. A, on The Newspapers and
the N. r. A." Afterwards there was
to be an informal discussion, led by
Arthur J. Sinnott Of the Newark
News.
Tonight the editors are to have an
informal of the record" chat with
President Roosevelt, but this is sub
ject to poStponement until tomorrow
at the Presidents convenience
The three-day session will be cli-
NAKED Saturday night with BAN
quet at which the editors will hear
Rexford G. Tugwell, Assistant Secre-
tary of Agriculture, and often-termed
No l brain truster" discuss The
New Deal and What it May Become" "
William Allen White. editor of the
Empcria Gazette, as toaStmaster, will
give his own views on Where Are
We Going?"
The other principal speaker will be
Eugene Meyer, former governor of
the Federal Reserve Board, and now
publisher of the Washington Post.
Guild to Be Discussed.
Two luncheon discussions of cur
rent newspaper problems were ar
ranged for the convention Tomor-
rows will be led by Allen Raymond,
president of the Newspaper Guild of
New York. 1t will deal with the
American Newspaper Guild. Satur-
days will be directed by Tom Wal
lace, editor of the Louisville Times,
and will center on the editorial page.
Other important talks listed for
the session include:
w. G. Vorpe. Sunday editor of the
Cleveland Plain Dealer, on THE Com
liberalization of Features"
Bruce Bliven. editor of the New
Republic, on THE Future of Free
Speech"
Sevellon Brown, managing editor
Of the Providence Journal, on Some
Newspaper Trends and Tendencies"
Marlen Pew of Editor and Publisher
will discuss Official Authorization"
for news stories. and Frank Parker
Stockbridge, editor of the American
Press, will analyze The News We
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