Evening star., 1938-04-23
ED|T0RS:.TOFlGHT
FOR DEMOCRATIC
!. IDEALS |: |N.u. s
Censorship of Good Taste
Also Is Pledged by
National Group.
0FF:REC0RD TALKS =.
MARK CONVENTION
Alderman, White !: and. David
Lawrence Take Part in Candid
- Discussion. .e:.:~'


The American Society Of Newspaper
Editors, in session here, WAS on record
today As. urging the citizens OF the
country to Join In - never -ceasing
night for the maintenance Of demo-
cratic institutions"
In . restatement Of the aims and
Ideals Of the organization, presented
by Grove Patterson OF the Toledo
Blade, and adopted unanimously, the
society said:
While we abhor every sort of gov
ernmental censorship that exists. else
where and every suggestion Of it that
has been made or could be made in
the United States, We take upon our
selves the responsibility for a censor-
ship Of good taste which will lead us
away from such invasion of privacy
as Is not absolutely warranted by. the
public welfare
g.. I'VE take upon ourselves = censor
shtp that will lead to greater accuracy
TN the reporting and presentation Of
news. 49,. -...-
1T has been well said that the press
must stand guard over. itself that 1t
may be worthy to stand guard for the
public.
= Face Criticism Fairly. ....
I'VE call upon all editors then to
recognize growing criticism, to face
It fairly, to set their houses In order,
to be governed by good taste, by q
sense OF justice, by complete devotion
to the public interest and to work un-
eeasinsly to educate our readers to
such 4 sense OF the value Of 4 free
press In America that the citizens OF
this republic shall become the willing
eo-operators, the fellow-workers, In .
never-eeasing fight for the mainte-
nance OF democratic institutions"
A candid off-the-record discussion
Of journalistic problems preceded the
adoption Of the platform Of aims and
Ideals. Those taking part included
Df. Can w. Alderman, dean Of the
Graduate School Of journalism at Co.
lumbia University; william Allen
White, noted editor Of the Emporia
(Kans) Gazette. and David Lawrence,
editor Of the United States Daily and
syndieated columnist. A letter from
j.. CHARLES Poe Of the Chattanooga
News was read.
The press associations were repre-
s4nted 1T the clinic by Byron Price
Of the Associated Press, Earl J. John
son of the United Press, Barry Faris
and Seymour Berkson, both Of Inter-
national News Service.
WsmaHs Psss Discussed.
Sessions, which are being held at
the National Press Club, brought .
discussion of the woman's page this
morning, with addresses scheduled BY
Malvna Lindsay, woman's editor Of
the Washington Post; Mary Stow,
woman's- feature editor Of the Newark
News. and Alice Coulter, assistant to
the director Of advertising of the Nor
vich Phsrmacal Co. Of Norwich, N. Y.
A report on covering the Chinese
var was to follow. with talks by Miles
W. Vaughn, night manager of the
New York oA1ce Of the United Press,
and H. r. Ekins, war correspondent
for the organization.
The final session was q luncheon
at the Willard Hotel, to be addressed
BY Dr.. William Alfred Eddy, president
OF Hobart College, whose subject was
.Riding Public Opinion OF Supersti-
tien," and H. o. (Fritz) Crisler, foot
ball coach at the University Of Michi-
gan. on The Press and Athletics"
Members and their wives were en-
tertained last night 1T buffet supper
at the home Of Eugene Meyer, pub
Usher Of the Washington Post, and
Ars. Meyer. .s-tt..
About 400 editors from al over the
country attended the 18th annual con-
vention Of the society.