Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-19
PUBLISHERS MEET
MAMMAL SESSION
A. N. p. A. Celebrates Gold.
en- Jubi|ee-Roper Talks
at A. P. Luncheon.

WAC ~OAAO SdAly 4OT IcAOcIH NUMBERED
In tens Of millions gathered in New
York today for the annual meeting Of
the Associated Press and the golden
jubilee Of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association.
Late this morning, hundreds Of pub
fishers, from hamlet and metropolis,
thronged into = midtown hotels con-
vention hall where President Frank B.
Noyes Of the Associated Press presided
At = session devoted to discussion Of
membership, the directorate and an
expanded news and photo service.
During the last week have gather
ed from . number of casual CONVERSE
tions that there Is an expectancy that
on this occasion will make some ref
erences to decisions in Washington
that mayor may not-have q pro-
found effect on the Associated Press"
said Mr.. Noyes in opening his remarks.
AS = further preface, Mr. Noyes said
he was speaking entirely on his own
responsibility and ANY remarks, criti-
cisms or facts are. as we say in WASH
ington, solely for background pur-
poses, and that am free to repudiate
them II and when may ind 1t ex-
pedient to do So"
No Complaint on Decisions.
Mr.. Noyes added that he had mo
hesitancy in saying have no squawk
to make over the decision Con the
Wagner act) recently announced by
the Supreme Court. My profound re-
spect for the court is in no wise abated,
though I would have been glad If one
| Of the fullbacks had not been overcome
BY an urge to become a quarterback
and to make dash with the ball of
quarter Of mile or 50.
Be that as it may" he continued,
we OF the Associated Press have be-
lieved that We had a right to select
the employees through whom We must
act in collecting the unbiased, I'M
colored, impartial news report upon
which the 1900 members of the or
ganization insist as the foundation
rock Of free press in America.
The men who 60 out to collect our
news and edit it after collection are,
and must be, body OF trusted men,
In their hands rests our honor.
In full recognition of this I think
I may say that inspection Of the
employer-employe relations in the As
ISOLATED Press by any one will show
rather an enviable record Indeed
without prompting from the outside
or the inside, the Associated Press al
most 40 years ago began giving vaca-
tons with pay. Almost 30 years ago
1t granted sick BENEFITS to its employees.
Almost 20 years ago it granted in
surance and at the same time put into
effect q pension plan.
Five-day Week Established.
Almost three years ago it tried the
| establishment OF the flve-day week,
and after temporarily suspending 1t
because it was not sufficiently inclu-
sive, it has established the five-day
4o-hour week generally among its
news employees"
Mr.. Noyes added that the social Sc
curity for Associated Press employees
established almost 20 years ago sis
fuller in its benefits than will ever be
reached under the national legislation
on this subject"
He told the Associated Press men,
bers that At the present moment, the
reserves held for the protection OF en-
ployes amount to more than $500, 900.
Il ardently hope" he said. that no
condition that it may confront will
require discontinuance Of the plan"
Il do not in any way differ as to
the desirability of the purpose Of this
social security legislation" Mr. Moves
said. Il merely desire to point out
that Associated Press employees now
enjoy, without participatory payments,
and I hope they may continue to en-
Joy, much more liberal treatment than
Is provided by legislation for en-
ployes less favored"
The annual luncheon Of the Asso-
ciated Press, with Secretary Roper Of
the Commerce Department, as guest
speaker, followed.
Roper Outlines Needs.
The Nations two outstanding needs,
Secretary Roper said, are to awaken
people further to their responsibility
for law and order and to halt 1.-The de-
terioration Of home life and the COM
mon virtues inherent therein"
The challenge is upon US as a peo-
pie to realize that laws cannot be wise
ly constructed nor effectively enforced
without the assistance, understanding,
sympathy and cooperation Of the
people.
1T Is, therefore, OF prime impor-
lance that the people should be
aroused, through thoroughly informed
leadership. to study the theory and
practice Of this government and their
responsibilities hereunder"
On the second point he said, Cen
sus statistics disclose that those Of our
people who are best situated to typify
character, integrity and intelligence
are not on the increase. Those who
have contributed leadership In every
field of our national life are failing in
the important responsibility of self
production"
Morality Of People Lays.
A drift of rural population to the
already congested cities" he said,
is leading to the erosion of rural
life" Along with uncontrolled in
dustrialism," he added, 'the morality
Of the people has Jagged behind our
mechanical development"
The plan should contemplate
system Of training potential workers
Is = reserve corps for industries in
which shortage Of skilled workers is
actual or probable and thus spread
security among many who are handi-
capped by vocational iliteracy. ."
In fact, we must recreate the
home life Of this country"
In the solution of these problems,
the secretary said, "the newspaper
can render constructive assistance"
Reviewing the history of the As
ISOLATED Press, which he praised as
the only non-profit-making news
association In tbs world" Roper urged
that cooperation between Govern
ment and Newspaper 'in behalf OF the