Evening star., 1938-04-21
NATION WARNED
OF F'BLACKPLACUE'
! OF CENSORSHIP
Newspaper Editors Society
Told SeIf.Government
Is on Trial.
CRITICS OF HONESTY
OF PRESS ANSWERED
A. H. Kirchhofer of the Buffalo
Evening News Says Public
Need Have No Fear.

"the black plague" of censorship j.
spreading to this continent, Alfred
H. Kirchhofer, president of the Amer.
lean Society of Newspaper Editors
warned today at the opening session
OF the organizations 18th annual con.
vention at the National Press Club.
Mr.. Kirchhofer, who is managing
editor of the Buffalo Evening News
said some critics of the American
press were asserting it could moi
serve the public honestly because il
operates under the profit system. HI
added:
L assert that it can serve the
public we'll because it does. We must
make it clear to the public that there
is a greater guarantee for freedom OF
thought in financial independence
than in political servility."
Mr. Kirchhofer said "one of the most
sacred duties of an American news.
paper is to interpret self-government
To-day self-government is on trial.
he said, An independent press car
uphold it. With 3OOooO,OOO under
censorship, the black plague is spread
ing to this continent. Thus it is the
obligation of free press to defend
and interpret free institutions.
History shows us that even the
best of the politicians, job seekers anG
offlce-holding bureaucracy tend to be-
come self-serving. If they aren't
thinking of reelection or reappoint-
ment. they are thinking of their place
In the sun.
Duty of Press Stressed.
ut is the duty of the press to warn
against such ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Tc
do this requires a high degree of COM
petence, intelligence and experience
in our editors and reporters.
"We should, indeed, be at the end
OF our rope if the American press
were so subservient to government
that it, in its entirety, reflected only
the views of the Government rathe,
than reported and interpreted its
actions effectively
Our job is not to keep America, in
these changing times, in the shackles
OF the status quo. but to make sure
that through methods of discussion
and education, which are basic features
of the newspaper function, the virtues
and defects of proposed alterations in
our political. social and economic svs-
tenn are understood before we take
steps which may lead to change. but
not necessarily to progress or reform y
Mr. Kirchhofer said the press of this
country is more definitely a phase of
our national life than ever before u
adding that the supreme challenge to
the American newspaper is the people S
need for guidance"
Peace and Government.
He saw two great causes which the
American press could serve-"the first
Is peace and the second is better,
cleaner local government"
Taking cognizance of "a growing tide
Of criticism directed against our news
papers," Mr.. Kirchhofer said:
We recognize better than most of
our critics the reasonable shortcom-
ings and limitations of newspapers,
but we also know better than our crit
les the day by day and hour by hour
effort freely poured into making bet
ter newspapers.
Too often, we may with human
frailty fall short of the standards
which we set for ourselves. but there
need be no fear that the press of
America doesn't reflect the common
point of view. 1t is to the glory of the
press, rather than to its discredit. that
1t represents stable, responsible
thought"
The delegates were welcomed by
Harold w. Brayman, president of the
National Press Club.
At 9 o'clock tonight delegates will
be granted an off-the-record interview
by President Roosevelt at the White
House. A similar unquotable confer
ence will be held at the State Depart
ment at IL am. tomorrow with
Undersecretary Sumner Wells.
Speakers at the various sessions
will include Dr. James B. Conant,
president of Harvard University; DR..
William A. Eddy, president of Hobart
College; Carl w. Ackerman, dean of
the Graduate School of Journalism
at Columbia University: Harold L.
Cross, secretary of the New York
Herald Tribune; Mark M. Jones, con-
sulting economist of Akron, Ohio, and
H. o. Crisler, football coach at the
University of Michigan Informal
discussions will follow most of the
addresses.
DR.. Conant to Speak.
At 2:30 pm. tomorrow, at a clinic
on responsibilities of the press" Dr.
Conant will speak on Journalism and
Education" Mr. Cross will discuss
1.-THE Irate Subscriber and What to
Do About Him." and Dean Ackerman
will talk on Current Professional
Problems" The general discussion tt
follow will be led by William Allen
White, editor of the Emporia (Kan.
Gazette; David Lawrence, editor oi
the United States NeWs, and j. Charles
Poe of the Chattanooga News.
Eugene Meyer, publisher of the
Washington Post and Mrs. Meyer
will entertain members and their wive.
1t buffet supper at pm. tomorrow
at their home, 1924 Crescent place
NV
Saturday mornings session will fea.
ture the woman's page, with speeches
BY Malvina Lindsay, woman's edito,
Of the Washington Post; Mary Stow
Eoman's feature editor of the Newark
News, and Alice Coulter, assistant tt
the advertising director of the Norwich
IN. " Pharmacal Co.
The final session will be luncheon
at the Willard Hotel at l2:45 O'Clock
Saturday. An address to be broadcast
over national network will be de.
livered by DR.. Eddy on Kidding Pub
Lie Opinion of Superstition Coach
Crisler will discuss THE Press and
Athletics"