Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-23
.L|PPMANN URGES
FREE-M|ND PRESS
Decay and Censorship Are
Results of Alliances, G. W.
u. Grads Told.

A guarantee OF the continued iIecuoiii
of the press was made by Walter Llpp-
mann, we'll known news commentator,
in the principal address last night at
the Hath Winter convocation OF
George Washington University held In
Constitution Hall.
The speaker was one of seven news
paper men upon whom was conferred
the honorary degree Of doctor OF laws,
and the convocation was dedicated to
the press and news correspondents oy
DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin, president.
Like the university" DR.. Marvin
said, "he (the newspaper correspond
ent) is engaged primarily in the OBJ
jective presentation Of the truth"
One hundred and forty-four grad
yates received degrees and certificates.
Six Others Honored.
Sharing honorS with Lippmann in
receiving honorary degrees were Carr
Van Anda, New York Times: Uric
Bell, Louisville Courier Journal; j.
Fred Essary, Baltimore Sun: Jay G..
HAYDEN, Detroit News; Charles G..
Ross, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and
Theodore c. Wallen, the New York
Herald Tribune
ALLOW me-" Lippmann said, ito
distinguish sharply two ideas that
are not always separated. There is
the freedom of the press which Is
guaranteed by the Constitution. There
is the independence of the press which
Is the achievement of newspaper men
themselves. Now it is perfectly pos
sible to have a press which is legally
free but is not independent because
1t is the mouthpiece Of parties, in
terests, cults.
Experience shows, I believe, that
unless among the newspapers of a
country there are established news
papers of wide circulation which are
predominantly independent, which
are predominantly objective, which
are predominantly disinterested in
the presentation of the news, the legal
freedom of the press has no solid and
enduring foundations"
Censorship Follows Weakness.
Referring to the censorship of some
countries, Lippmann attributed it to
the fact that those countries were
without independent newspapers
with some honorable and notable
exceptions" and in the main the
press of the countries served factions,
parties or special interests.
When the interests were over
thrown" he said. they were over
thrown too, and they lost their legal
freedom because they had not
achieved their independence.
THE battle to establish the legal
guarantees was won in America more
than century ago, but the battle
to make those guarantees perma-
nent part Of the heritage of our civ
ilization is still in progress.
1T will be won, If it is won at all,
by newspaper men, like those on this
platform here tonight, whose highest
ambition in their profession is to get
the news and state 1t correctly and
print it fearleSSly."
Lippmann concluded his address by
comparing the aims and purposes of
the teacher and the newspaper man.
I'VE remember that the best teach
ers are those who never cease to be
students; the best newspaper men
are those who never cease to be re-
porterS. This Is the common ground
on which we stand"
AS the certificates and diplomas
were delivered by DR.. Marvin the
graduates were presented by the deans
of the several schools and depart
ments They we're: Dean William
Crane tombstone, jr., Junior College;
Dean Henry Grattan Doyle, Column
bian College; Dean William Cabell
Van Bleck, Law School; Dean John
r. Lapham, School of Engineering;
Dean William Carl Ruediger, School
OF Education; Dean Warren Reed
West, School Of Government; Director
Alfred F. w. Schmidt, division of Ii
brary science, and Director Norris I.
Crandall, division of fine arts.
The candidates for honorary de-
grees were presented by members Of
the Board of Trustees.
The program was concluded by
brief charge to the graduating class
by DR.. Marvin.
Citations Praise Writers.
The citations read by DR.. Marvin in
comforting the degrees upon the news
paper men follow:
"Ulric Bell.-Warm- hearted friend,
natural executive, always aiming by
means of the best in sectional SYM
pathy to instruct the national mind.
Jesse Frederick ESsary.-Author,
international correspondent, holder Of
ha vic NJ IND
pendent in Interpretation of our ma
tional life. Observation and discip-
line have combined to create a writer
with high feeling for service.
Jay G. Hayden.-Patient, modest,
steadfast to preserve high standards
of journalistic Interpretation both ma
tional and international; friend de-
scribes his attitude, a healthy curios-
ity against background Of real and
human understanding, and high pur-
pose
Charles Griffith RoSs.-Teacher,
writer. receiver of the Pulitzer Prize,
conscientious interpreter of the insti-
buttons Of our land, able to inspire the
lives Of associates. His singleness Of
purpose and high achievement have
blessed his profession.
Called Master of News.
"Carr v. van Anda-Recognized
master in the profession of the dis
semination Of news, who because Of
sensitiveness and insight demands
exacting understanding, administrator
successful in applying principles of
positive reporting to advance mans
best interests: student gifted in prac-
tical idealism, life that counts for
straight citizenship.
Theodore Clifford Wallen.-Clear
student, able in reporting pub
lie action. A good citizen who tenn
pers judgment with high loyalties.
The mould of his life bespeaks
strength dedicated to right thinking.
walter Lippman.-Worthy son and
overseer Of Harvard University; edi-
tor. guide Of public opinion-skilled in
scholarship and eminent in letters:
whom deep fervor and
quiet will have wrought steadfast
understanding for interpreting the
social order; exponent-gifted to es-
tablish the ideal as reality and make
1t an enlightening power in the lives
~ MAN