Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-07-08

The text OF the resolution
adopted by representatives of IL
large newspaper associations in
Chicago June 90 is as follows:
The newspaper editors and pub
fishers from all sections of the Unit
ed States individually and through
their cooperative associations listed
below are gathered here to take &C
ton upon the American Newspaper
guilds recent declaration for the
closed shop in editorial and news de-
partments. We recognize the fact that
when problem of major Importance
to the public is presented to us, the
public is entitled to a statement.
This meeting is by no means one
of opposition to collective bargaining,
better hours, pay or working condi-
tions for newspaper men and women.
We are here to discuss the closed
shop as a matter of journalistic and
public principle, not as an economic
issue.
Freedom a Guarantee.
Established for the benefit of all
the people are four fundamental
rights in the constitution, freedom
of religion, freedom of speech. free
dom of the press and freedom of as
sembly. Experience has proved and
even now is demonstrating in Russia,
Italy and Germany that the interior
ence with one of these fundamental
rights means the curtailing of the
Others-the collapse of liberty itself
Freedom of the press is not an ex-
emption accorded by the constitution
for the benefit of publishers; it is
but one of these four guarantees. It
is a publishers responsibility, cit
liens right-one which entities him
to an accurate statement of what is
taking place in order that he may
have the facts wherewith to judge
matters of public policy and take
whatever action may be necessary to
protect himself and that which he
holds dear.
There has never been a time in our
history when uncolored presentation
of news was as vitality important as
today.
Foundation Needed.
The extension of the great press as
sociations serving news to newspapers
of varying social, economic, political
and religious beliefs has emphasized
this development of impartial news
treatment. Thousands of men and wo-
men are devoting their lives to the
gathering and presentation of the
news without bias.
Only on such foundation of
actual reporting can sound public
opinion and wise public policies be
based.
This vital service of the press to
the public can be performed properly
. only when those who are responsible
for the publication are free to choose
the persons whom they deem best
qualified to report and edit the news.
Guild Partisan.
This responsibility cannot be dis
charged if rome outside authority,
beyond their control, determines
whom they shall or shall not employ.
That is precisely what the American
Newspaper guild seeks by its demand.
And that demand is the more serious
because the guild is now committed
to number of definite political OBJ
jectives.
The recent American Newspaper
guild convention in st. Louis by re-
solution took positions on such de-
batable subjects as the war in Spain,
the court bill and the support of a
particular political party. In the same
convention the guild as an organiza-
ton enlisted as partisan in the ire
mendous public dispute now involv-
ing the entire labor movement in this
country.
Following the expression on the
public policies enumerated, the guild
laid down mandatory rules calling for
a closed or guild shop. The closed
shop is present in mechanical depart
ments of many newspapers, absent
in some.
No Change of Bias.
We unite now, however, in I'M
swerving objection to the closed shor
for news and editorial department
workers, not because we regard 1t as