Evening star., 1935-04-19
Three Foreign Correspond.
ents Scheduled to Speak
This Afternoon.
WHITE HOUSE VISIT
"OFF THE RECORD"
Grove Patterson Scores "Inactiv-
ity and Mental Incidence.
w. A. White a Speaker.

Editors of 100 papers, gathered here
for their thirteenth annual conven-
ton, were prepared for some sharp
self-criticism this afternoon with a
discussion of 1.-THE Worst That Can
Truthfully be Said About Today's
Newspapers"
The men behind the Nations most
important journals, members Of the
American Society of Newspaper Edi-
tors, faced a day filled with consid-
erations of various technical aspects
of their profession.
This afternoon three noted foreign
correspondents, Dorothy Thompson,
Paul Scott Mowrer and Raymond
Gram Swing. were to tell the news
executives about THE Big News in
Europe; What It Means and How to
Get It."
Confidential Comment.
The group, meeting at the National
Press Club in three-day session. was
received at the White House last night
to hear the President comment on
matters the news men could not pub
lish. The interview was strictly on
the record.
William Allen White, the Emporia,
Kans., sage, long leader among
publishers and editors, gave an answer
yesterday afternoon to the editors
harassing question on "the conflict
between the important and the In
teresting in newspapers" He advised:
uat the nntinY1
you are honest, courageous and in
telligent you will gain their respect
and they will follow your own dictate
on what is important"
Grove Patterson, the societys presi-
dent and veteran editor Of the To-
ledo Blade, took his colleagues to
task for editorial inactivity and
mental Incidence" and added:
Never before has it been so clearly
the duty Of newspapers to think long
and work devotedly to bring con-
structive suggestions to men md
public Office.
Frankly I am less disturbed about
the freedom Of the press In the
United States than I am about the
disposition of too many newspaper
editors not to do anything with the
freedom that Is theirs"
New Public Opinion.
Patterson expressed concern over the
ravages of crime and exhorted Amer
ican newspaper men to build and
foster a new public opinion with re-
gard to law enforcement"
There must be no suppression Of
news" he said. THAT way lies the
road to laxity, forgetfulness and in
difference. Constantly we must at
tack officials who fail through fear
or favor. Constantly we must bring
support to those who do job with all
the competency and courage that lie
within them"
The editors conferred on the in
creasing importance of pictures in
newspapers this morning before a
luncheon at which Julia Coburn,
editor of the Ladies Home Journal,
discussed ''The Woman's Page"
The society and the National Press
Club tonight will hold q reception for
Vice President Garner, cabinet mem
bers, Speaker Byrns, a group Of
Senators and members Of the House.
heads of independent bureaus and
"other big figures in the news" +"
Vaudeville and music will be pro-
vided by the club.
The party will replace the clubs
congressional night" at which it plays
host to new members of Congress.
A chorus from the colored Civilian
Conservation Corps camp at Alexan-
dria will sing several spirituals, includ-
ing "Steal Away to Jesus" "Mammy's
Lullaby" Go Down Moses" and
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" all by
Harry G. Burleigh. The chorus is di-
rected by Fred Hampton and James
Hariston, baritone, is soloist. Other
musical numbers will be by Edwin c.
Steffe, Fred East and William F. Ray
mond, with George H. Wilson at the
piano.